Kerala’s turnaround into oxygen surplus State in two years
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Till two years in the past, Kerala used to depend upon its neighbouring States for its common provide of liquid oxygen for medical functions. Its transformation into an oxygen surplus State started with the organising of oxygen crops in the private and non-private sectors over the previous two years and the steps taken by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) over the previous yr to enhance capability and plug leakages.
On March 23 final yr, the PESO nodal officer convened a gathering of the liquid oxygen producers on the problems which are anticipated with the unfold of COVID-19. They have been additionally to offer every day stories on the manufacturing and storage standing. Hospitals have been requested to make sure that their programs are maintained correctly arresting any leakages.
At current, Kerala has a manufacturing capability of 204 tonnes per day of liquid oxygen. Inox Air merchandise, a personal sector firm arrange at Palakkad in 2019, produces 147 tonnes a day. The public sector Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML) arrange a plant in September 2020, producing 7 tonnes per day. The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited plant produces 0.322 tonnes a day, whereas the Cochin Shipyard produces 5.45 tonnes a day. The 11 Air Separation Units (ASU) throughout the State produces 44 tonnes a day.
“Now, Kerala is using 79 tonnes daily, and supplying 74 tonnes to Tamil Nadu and 30 tonnes to Karnataka. As per the current situation, we are doing well. There is demand for more oxygen from the other States too. We certainly have the option to increase capacity, as plants are not currently running at 100%. The total oxygen requirements are expected to soar in the coming weeks. The Centre has now given Pressure Swing Adsorption systems for three Government Medical Colleges at Kottayam, Thrissur and Ernakulam. The systems are already installed and once this too starts working, we will be in a better position,” says R.Venugopal, Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives, PESO, Nodal officer ( Medical Oxygen Monitoring) , Kerala & Lakshadweep
The KMML till last year could produce only industrial grade oxygen, with 99.95% purity. But with the setting of a 70-tonne-a-day day oxygen plant in October last year, out of which 10% is liquid oxygen for medical purposes of 99.99% purity, it is also contributing to the State’s surplus.
“We began work on the brand new plant two years again and it acquired accomplished in October, after the onset of the pandemic. Since then, we have now equipped round 1000 tonnes of oxygen to hospitals via three companies. We even have a 100 tonnes storage tank,” says J.Chandrabose, MD, KMML.
Mr.Venugopal says hospitals throughout the State ought to use extra cylinders, equipped from the ASUs, moderately than depend upon liquid oxygen. The PESO has additionally written to the Kerala State Electricity Board to offer uninterrupted round the clock provide to the ASU crops to make sure fixed manufacturing.