The Centre has prohibited the supply of Oxygen for industrial purposes by manufacturers and suppliers from 22nd of this month till further orders.

Union Health Ministry said that the matter was deliberated by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with all the stakeholders and after due deliberations, it was considered prudent to restrict the industrial usage of oxygen to meet the rising demand for medical oxygen.

It said the surplus oxygen available as a result of this temporary restriction will facilitate it's freeing up for use as medical oxygen for treatment of COVID19 patients.

The Ministry said, this prohibition, however, shall not apply to the supply of oxygen for nine industries. These are Ampoules and Vials, Pharmaceutical, Petroleum refineries, Steel plants, Nuclear energy facilities, Oxygen cylinder manufacturers, Wastewater treatment plants, food and water purification and Process industries which require the uninterrupted operation of furnaces.

The industrial units, other than these, are advised to consider alternate measures such as import of Oxygen or setting up their own Air Separator Units (ASU) for generation of Oxygen for their captive requirements. The Union Health Ministry has advised all Chief Secretaries to ensure effective implementation and compliance of this Order.