In India, along with the factories that run on electricity, there are many factories that run on gas. Be it making fertilizer, making glass products, ceramic items or cement products, all these require a lot of gas. Now in the current situation, all such industries are facing the brunt of gas shortage. The work of small factories dependent on taking cylinders for gas every day or keeping less stock has come to a halt. The condition of big companies is also such that if soon the supply does not become as before, then their work may also stop. The main reason behind this is that due to the shortage of gas, the Government of India has given instructions that gas should be provided for domestic use first.
From the country’s capital Delhi to the industrial cities of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and other states, businessmen are facing problems due to shortage of gas. The matter of concern is that electricity is generated from gas-based turbines and gas-based plants account for 6-7% of the total electricity required in the country. This means that factories running on electricity, which are considered an alternative to gas, may also be affected.
Ceramic industry is in trouble
There is a big market for ceramic utensils, idols and decorative items etc. in the country. Most of the work of this industry is done through gas fired furnaces. In such a situation, businessmen of all the states including Delhi are now fed up with the shortage of gas. Many companies manufacturing tiles and ceramic items in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and Morbi city of Gujarat have stopped their operations for a few days. According to a report in Indian Express, its effect will be that the price of ceramic items will increase in two-three days. Prices are being changed even for already placed orders.
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This has also affected the workers working in these companies. Due to closure of work in many companies, they have become without work. The workers have been told that the factories will not reopen until the situation becomes normal. Due to this, this big industry is facing the same problem as it once faced due to lockdown.
According to India Brand and Equity Foundation, India’s ceramic industry is worth around Rs 70 thousand crore. About 40 percent share in this is exported, that is, a large part of the goods manufactured goes abroad. This incident is worrying for the ceramic market which is growing at the rate of 6 to 7 percent every year.
In this industry mainly electricity and natural gas based furnaces are required. Ceramic tiles require temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees for long periods of time. In such a situation, it is difficult to make these items without gas. Gas is required to mold these items into different shapes, cook them and then dry them.
Bad effect on glass industry
Actually, these are such industries which require direct fire and electrical equipment cannot do this work. Factories making glass items require LPG and PNG and this gas mostly comes from other countries. LPG based plant work has been affected in the first few days itself. Those who have supplies are able to work but are not able to produce at full capacity. The reason for this is that work happens all the time in this industry and gas is required during work.
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From melting the glass to shaping it, gas furnaces are required. Modern furnaces also run on gas because glass requires fire, not heat. According to the Indian Express report, even a 5% reduction in gas supply can shut down these companies and cause huge losses. There will be additional expenditure in restarting these companies later.
Let us tell you that these Indian companies produce about 26 thousand tonnes every day, out of which 80 percent is consumed in the country itself. The remaining 20 percent of the goods are sent abroad. These companies also make glass items for medical use. Glass utensils for keeping medicines are also made in this industry.
Even big companies like Borosil require 15 to 20 tonnes of LPG every day. There are some companies whose furnaces can run on furnace oil as well as gas, but gas is still required. Another thing is that very few companies or people have furnaces that run on two types of fuel. One problem is that glass working requires a constant flow of gas. If for any reason the furnaces stop even for half an hour, all the things that happen during the process get damaged and cannot be repaired.
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Industry experts believe that once shut down, it may take 6 to 12 months for a company to start its operations and the cost of restarting the furnaces of big factories can range from Rs 50 to Rs 200 crore.
The rest are also in bad shape
Similarly, cement factories running on gas furnaces, automobile parts manufacturing companies and pharmaceutical companies have also been affected. The supply of piped LNG to the industrial areas in Gujarat, Maharashtra and other states is being badly affected and now people associated with the industry are contacting the state and central government so that they can get the gas under any circumstances.
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