BPCL to supply 2,500 O2 cylinders to BHEL

Prayagraj: Once closed down owing to the heavy loss incurred for several years, the Naini-based Bharat Pumps and Compressor Limited (BPCL), has now come as a boon for Uttar Pradesh which is facing acute shortage of oxygen amid the dangerous second wave of Covid-19
Defunct since 2012 and closed down by the Union ministry of heavy industries in December 2020, BPCL is now working day and night to supply the lifesaving oxygen cylinders that have been ordered by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
“The government has not placed the order directly to BPCL, because then it would have to revoke its earlier decision of shutting the Naini-based company. Hence, the state government has placed an order of 2,500 oxygen cylinders to BHEL. Since BHEL does not have the expertise to manufacture oxygen cylinders, it has, in turn, asked BPCL to manufacture them,” said senior leader of the employee union, RLD Dubey
“As per the order, BPCL is manufacturing 2,500 oxygen cylinders, each of the capacity of 46.7 litres. They will be supplied within 21 days. An amount of around Rs 3.69 crore has been transferred to the company for manufacturing these cylinders,” said deputy director (industries) Ajay Kumar Chaurasia.
BPCL Employees’ Association have submitted a memorandum to deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, demanding the merger of BPCL with BHEL.