Updates COVID-19

We are facing an exceptional situation and exceptional measures are required. Now is the moment to prove that we fully understand our role in the local community. Our number one responsibility is towards our employees and their families. Because our employees, their families along with their friends and relatives, they represent the community. We are the community. Together.

We implemented operational, administrative and health-related protocols and procedures inside ALUM premises in order to ensure the health of our employees, prevent infections in our premises, ensure a continuous supply for our clients and mitigate the negative consequences of this pandemic.

We decided to offer our support to Tulcea County Hospital in order to help the medical staff in their fight against coronavirus. Moreover, ALUM’s Research & Development Laboratory has prepared a hand liquid disinfectant based on the guidelines for the local production as set by the World Health Organization

At the current stage of the pandemic, ALUM is operating at normal parameters and has a fully operational supply chain.  

26 June 2020: ALUM innovates to combat the COVID-19 pandemic

• The Company developed a hand liquid disinfectant using locally purchased ingredients

• This new product awaits the approval of the National Institute for Medical-Military Development Research "Cantacuzino" before being produced and used at Company’s level

• Additional specific safety protocols and procedures have been implemented since the onset of the sanitary crisis to ensure business continuity and the health of the employees

ALUM continued to focus on the health and safety of its employees and the community where it operates through extensive and comprehensive safety measures. Additionally, the hand liquid disinfectant developed in ALUM’s Research and Development Laboratory based on the local production guide of the World Health Organization has passed the bactericidal and fungicidal activity tests of the National Institute for Medical-Military Development Research "Cantacuzino" and awaits approval from the commission of the biocidal products.

"We continue to be cautious regarding the effects of the current health crisis by implementing additional internal measures to prevent COVID-19 related outcomes, but also prudent, by creating new tools to protect our staff, to ensure safe working conditions and the continuity of our operations”, said Gheorghe DOBRA, CEO of ALUM. “However, the scope of our measures has concerned not only our employees and clients but also the whole community. Thus, our R&D team developed our disinfectant that is in the process of obtaining the approvals from the competent authorities. We aim at producing internally enough disinfectant for the needs of the Company and the safety of our employees and partners", added Gheorghe DOBRA.

To protect the employees, ALUM provided medical and protective equipment, constantly disinfected and sanitized all the common areas, implemented alternative/ rotational shifts to minimize the interaction and working from home programs for the employees that can perform their activity remotely. Moreover, the Company has been among the first in Romania to install disinfectant curtains in the entryway and temperature scanners in the access points.

To ensure its operations run safely and in normal parameters, ALUM activated a Business Continuity Plan, while performing numerous simulations in which one or more employees would be infected with COVID-19.

The alumina producer has also donated RON 100,000 to Tulcea County Hospital for protective and medical equipment, antiviral medication, mechanical ventilation devices and monitoring of vital functions, supporting thus the efforts of the authorities to combat the spreading of the COVID-19 virus.

Currently, ALUM’s management closely observes the evolution of the pandemic and all the directives and guidance from the Romanian Government and international organizations to do the best for the employees, suppliers and clients.

7 April 2020: ALUM takes actions to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 effects and donates RON 100,000 to Tulcea County Hospital

• ALUM implemented a complete set of measures to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 effects and to protect the health of its employees while securing a normal operational work-flow;

• The Company remains one of the main pillars in Tulcea area and supports the local community fight against COVID-19 by donating RON 100,000 to Tulcea County Hospital;

• ALUM’s Research & Development Laboratory has prepared a hand liquid disinfectant based on the guidelines for the local production as set by the World Health Organization

ALUM supports the fight against COVID-19 by donating RON 100,000 to Tulcea County Hospital for medical supplies and equipment, antiviral medication, ventilation and monitoring life signs systems, while on the other side is implementing a comprehensive set of protocols and procedures in its alumina refinery.

“We are facing exceptional conditions and we need to take decisive actions to preserve the health and safety of our employees and the local community. Because our employees, their families and friends, we all are the community and we need to act together to stop this pandemic and its devastating effects. Besides the contribution to Tulcea County Hospital and the strict hygiene rules within our premises, our Research & Development Laboratory has developed our hand liquid disinfectant”, said Gheorghe DOBRA, Chief Executive Officer ALUM, Tulcea. “Pending approval from competent authorities, we will be able to produce sufficient disinfectant to cover ALUM’s needs and to ensure the safety of our employees and partners” added Gheorghe DOBRA.

Considering the need to urgently apply hygiene measures for the employees of ALUM to prevent infection with COVID-19, as well as the lack of liquid or gel disinfecting materials on the market, the Company explored alternatives and safe solutions to overcome this situation. In this respect, the Research & Development Laboratory of ALUM has prepared (for laboratory tests) a hand liquid disinfectant based on the guidelines for the local production as set by the World Health Organization.

This liquid disinfectant can be prepared in the Research & Development Laboratory of ALUM with ingredients purchased from the local market based on a protocol set and in sufficient quantities for the internal use of ALUM. Currently, the Company has filed under an emergency status for obtaining the authorisation at the National Department of Public Health, part of the Ministry of Health for the preparation and local use of this product.

Furthermore, as an answer to the threat of COVID-19 and to protect the health of its employees, ALUM has implemented from an early stage of this pandemic crisis a whole set of protocols and procedures with the main focus that all sanitization and disinfection measures are properly implemented and thus to ensure a normal work-flow for clients and suppliers and hence to mitigate the negative outcomes derived from this pandemic.

Among the comprehensive operational and administrative measures implemented within the organization there are:

• medical and protective supplies and equipment, like face masks, gloves, overalls are distributed to all employees;

• new protocols and procedures have been designed and implemented in the plant, in coordination with the central and local authorities, and with the observance of the World Health Organization’s recommendations for industrial sites;

• strict measures of cleaning, sanitization and disinfection of the locker rooms, common areas, cafeteria, offices were implemented;

• all the areas inside and outside production facilities are permanently disinfected;

• disinfectant dispensers were placed in the access points, cafeterias; cooked meals have been replaced with cold meals for all employees to avoid collective interactions at the canteens;

• all employees were instructed how to act to prevent their infection with COVID-19 and have to report daily their health status;

• split/ rotational shifts have been implemented to minimize interaction;

• employees’ health condition is checked daily before starting the work;

• contingency plans have been already simulated for the case when one or more employees are infected with COVID-19 and thus the Company ensured that the operations are not disrupted;

• business trips have been reduced to an absolute minimum and participation to events of all kinds has been suspended;

• visits to the production facilities site were reduced to a minimum;

• the Company had implemented remote work for employees, where possible;

• the recommendations for drivers and relevant transport-related undertakings involved in freight transport following the COVID-19 outbreak as published by European Commission were already implemented within the Company;

• as a result, for the current phase of pandemic ALUM is operating in normal parameters and has a supply chain fully operational.

ALUM benefits also from solid support from one of the Group’s affiliated security company, Rivergate being in full alert 24/7.

Currently, the management is closely monitoring the development of this pandemic and acts with caution but with immediate and decisive actions to limit the negative impact on its employees and operations.