Page 24 - Covid 2021 June 2021

About 30 industries have been identified, and efforts have begun to modify nitrogen plants for the production of medical oxygen. Some of these plants can be shifted to nearby hospitals for supplying oxygen and some plants, where it is not feasible to shift the plants, can produce oxygen on-site.
M/s UPL Ltd converted one 50 Nm3/hour capacity nitrogen plant to produce oxygen using Zeolite Molecular Sieve (ZMS) and installed it at L G Rotary Hospital, Vapi (Gujarat). This plant is producing 0.5 ton/day oxygen and is operational since 27 April. UPL Ltd. is also under process of conversion of three more plants. On conversion to oxygen plants, these plants will be installed at hospitals in Surat and Ankaleshwar.
In the existing nitrogen plants, replacing Carbon Molecular Sieve (CMS) with ZMS and few other changes such as installation of oxygen analyzer, change in control panel system, flow valves etc., oxygen for medical use can be produced. With the availability of ZMS, such modified plant can be set-up in 4-5 days while installation of new oxygen plant may take minimum 3-4 weeks.
Oxygen produced in on-site plants has to be compressed and filled in cylinders/special vessels using high pressure compressor for transporting to hospitals. Facilitation is being provided to these industries for completion of work at the earliest.
Website link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1715313
Simplification of procedure for import of oxygen cylinders and
cryogenic tankers/containers
The Government of India has reviewed the existing procedure of registration and approval of global manufacturers for importing oxygen cylinders and cryogenic tankers/containers by Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (PESO). In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, PESO shall not carry out physical inspection of global manufacturers' production facilities before grant of such registration and approval. Now, such approvals shall be granted online without any delay on submission of manufacturer’s particulars; ISO certificate of manufacturer; List of Cylinders/Tankers/Containers, their specifications, drawings & batch number; Hydro test certificate and Third party inspection Certificate.
Contact Info: sksingh@explosives.gov.in
Website link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1716302
Five hundred Medical Oxygen Plants to be set up across the country
within three months
In order to tackle the surge in COVID-19 cases and subsequent requirement of oxygen, PM- CARES has allocated funds for the installation of 500 Medical Oxygen Plants across the country. These plants are planned to be set up within three months. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) setup five Medical Oxygen Plants within the first week of May in and around Delhi. These are to be installed at AIIMS Trauma Centre, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML), Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and one at AIIMS, Jhajjar, Haryana. These have been supplied by M/s Trident Pneumatics Pvt. Ltd., Coimbatore which is the technology partner of DRDO and has been given an order of 48 plants. Order of 332 plants has been placed with M/s Tata Advanced Systems Limited and the delivery will start from mid-May. The delivery schedule is being monitored very closely to deliver before the scheduled time. Sites are being prepared at each hospital in parallel.
VIGYAN PRASAR 21