If power is snapped during the manufacturing process, machines will require additional one hour to resume normal production, said Bibek Agrawal, manager of Lumbini Oxygen Gas (LOG).[break]
"Contrary to such requirements, we are, however, suffering from protracted load-shedding and erratic supply. This has seriously hurt our productions," said Agrawal. LOG is one of the leading oxygen producers in the country and supplies oxygen to hospitals and industries in 6 districts of western Nepal.
Moreover, LOG at Narayangadh is the sole manufacturer of oxygen in the region and has not been able to meet the demand even under normal circumstances. "You can imagine how 6 hours of daily power-cut and erratic supply at other hours can affect the supply of oxygen in the region," said Agrawal.
There are 5 oxygen manufacturing companies in the capital and one each in Narayangadh, Birgunj and Biratnagar.
When electricity is supplied round the clock, LOG manufactures oxygen enough to fill up 425 cylinders each of 47-liter capacity. The bigger cylinders are mainly used for industrial purposes while for medical purposes, cylinders with 11-liter capacity are used.
“At a time when regular supply is not able to meet the demand, electricity must be supplied through industrial feeders to oxygen manufacturing companies,” said Mahendra Kumar Shrestha, president of Sidhhartha Nagar Chamber of Commerce.
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