Medical oxygen output capacity in the country rises to over 8,000 tonnes a day from 6,000 tonnes last year

During the second wave of COVID-19, the demand peaked to nearly 9,000 MT as compared to the peak requirement of 3,095 MT during the first wave.

The production capacity for liquid medical oxygen, which was in huge demand during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, has increased to over 8,000 tonnes per day now, from 6,000 tonnes per day last year, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Additional Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Sumita Dawra said the supply of oxygen for medical purposes was enhanced almost 10 times from 1,000 tonnes per day in December 2019 to 9,600 tonnes per day in May this year.

"Our production capacity today has increased from 6,000 tonnes last year to over 8,000 tonnes today," she told reporters here.