As Covid-19 infections across India rise beyond the two-million mark, the country’s energy companies are coming up with novel solutions to keep the virus at bay and their operations running. From drones used to monitor social distancing at refineries to giant mist cannons that spray disinfectants near workers’ quarters, employers in India’s labour-intensive oil, gas and coal industries are taking extreme measures to ensure the outbreak doesn’t hobble operations in the world’s third-largest energy consumer. Heavy-duty machineryFor workers in India’s coal industry that usually live with their families in cramped quarters near mines, operators such as Coal India Ltd are using industrial-strength machinery to try and keep the virus in check. This routine prevented groups from mixing and allowed maintenance at the multi-billion dollar refinery to proceed without any major disruptions. "When we found out about the infections, we minimised the jobs to ensure no Covid-positive person got inside,” said T.D.V.S.

Source: The Star August 13, 2020 08:03 UTC