600% jump in oxygen demand from hospitals
During the first COVID-19 wave, the demand for liquid medical oxygen went up from 700 metric tonnes per day (MTPD) to 2,800 MTPD. But during the second wave, it has further skyrocketed to 5,000 MTPD
BusinessToday.In | April 21, 2021 | Updated 21:28 IST
The second wave of coronavirus infections has hit the country hard. Putting tremendous pressure on the nation s medical infrastructure, the latest surge in COVID-19 cases has driven up the demand for medical oxygen, a critical commodity in treating the respiratory ailment. The demand for oxygen in hospitals has reportedly gone up 600-800 per cent over the past few days.
Mandatory registration of copper, aluminium products import is a welcome move
April 05, 2021
The process of mandatory registration of import contracts for several copper and aluminium items under the ‘Non-ferrous metal import monitoring system’ has kicked-in from April 5. This move is sure to help more rational intervention decisions by policy-makers, whenever needed.
This follows a similar move in September 2019 when steel products import was brought under steel import monitoring system. Later it was extended to coal. Steel importers had protested when compulsory registration of contract was introduced (see BL Commentary September 13, 2019), but have now fallen in line.
Key information
Prior registration of import contract is sure to raise the hackles of copper and aluminium importers. But it is a necessary move that will allow the government to know impending imports in advance and monitor their arrivals. Advance information relating to the quantity contracted for, price,