Workers on duty in a Petrovietnam project. (Photo: Petrovietnam)

Proactive, aggressive policy with "multiple rounds-multiple layers"

While the COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the world, new outbreaks have occurred in many Asian countries, including those bordering Vietnam. New clusters of COVID-19 community cases have also been detected in Vietnam. Since late April, Vietnam has recorded 643 cases of community infections in almost 30 provinces and cities nationwide.

Petrovietnam has defined pandemic response a key task as it is closely following solution and activating safety measures that match various scenarios.

At a recent online meeting with leaders from the group’s 8 member units nationwide, Petrovietnam’s President and CEO Le Manh Hung asked the staff to analyze risks and apply appropriate preventive solutions in order to ensure production and business activities and fulfill tasks.

The Group’s leaders have issued a series of directives, urging member units to review personnel and healthcare facilities for their employees during the pandemic, especially those working at oil rigs, factories, and construction sites. All units are asked to stay on high alert and deal with any situation may it arise. Online meetings are encouraged while working routines are rescheduled with the enforcement of 5K regulations (Khau trang (facemask), Khu khuan (disinfection), Khoang cach (distance), Khong tu tap (no gathering), and  Khai bao y te (health declaration)) to prevent the virus from spreading.

The Group has set up emergency taskforces, which are on duty around the clock to provide information if any infections within the group are detected.

Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP) has done its best to prevent the spread of the virus at its working places and offshore oil rigs while ensuring production continuity. PVEP has launched healthcare consulting and support package for its staff on special duty in Algeria.

In any worsening situations during the pandemic, Vietsopetro and PVEP are ready for setting up taskforces, spraying disinfectant, and rearranging working shifts, to make sure that production is uninterrupted.

PV Gas strictly abides by preventive measures to ensure its working pace. The company has accelerated its communications, highlighting the importance of PREVENTION in the fight against COVID-19.

Other affiliates of Petrovietnam including Petrovienam Power Corporation (PV Power), Petrovietnam Drilling and Well Service Corporation (PV Drilling), Petrovietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), Petrovietnam Camau Fertilizer Joint Stock Company (PVCFC), Bien Dong Petroleum Operating Company (BIEN DONG POC), and Song Hau Thermal Power Plant (Song Hau 01), preventive measures are being strictly observed.

Petrovietnam has so far recorded no COVID-19 infection cases.

Silent sacrifices

Challenges posed by the pandemic have not discouraged the Vietnamese people. On the contrary, such difficulties have pushed society to adapt to a new situation and keep moving forward. This also applies to Petrovietnam’s employees working all over the world, from continents to maritime areas and Sahara desert, from Qatar to Russia, Peru, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Relocating workers from offshore complexes and offices abroad is not an easy task.

Petrovietnam has done its best to encourage its staff working offshore and abroad to stay safe and stay strong  during the pandemic.

Thousands of Petrovietnam employees have been stranded on duty abroad since the pandemic broke out in early 2020. They include PVEP staff working for years at a mine in the middle of the Sahara desert with harsh weather and living conditions, those working on PVTrans vessels stuck in international seas, and those spending  months aboard the Hai Phong PTSC vessel in Malaysia as this country shut down its border due to COVID-19.

They have stayed away from their families for years, some of them did not have a chance to see their old parents for the last time. They have braved pain and hardship to accomplish tasks.

During this difficult time, Petrovietnam workers have received encouragement from their leaders who were sending them regards via telephone calls, emails, offering them extra wages and allowances, and visiting their families and relatives.  

During the pandemic, Petrovietnam has witnessed many moving stories of  co-workers’ patience, solidarity, sacrifices, and sharing. The story of Le Ba Tuan is a case in point.

Tuan is currently working for a PVEP oil and gas exploration project in Algeria. He embarked on his mission in February, 2020, when the pandemic broke out and since then he has been unable to return home. As the situation worsened in Europe and some North African countries, including Algeria, international flights were canceled and these countries shut their borders. Fortunately, in July, 2020, the Vietnamese government organized a repatriation flight for Vietnamese citizens in Algeria departing from France. But Tuan, the most senior member who was longing for meeting his sick wife and very old father, finally gave his reserved seat on the flight to a younger co-worker. That flight was the last chance for the Vietnamese people in Algeria to return home until now.  

Although COVID-19 is evolving complicatedly and Petrovietnam is running projects in areas with a surge of COVID-19 cases and employing a large number of foreign experts coming to Vietnam from pandemic-hit areas, the Group has ensured safe and smooth operation. These results demonstrate Petrovietnam’s aggressive, proactive leadership and their comprehensive anti-pandemic measures plus the seriousness, solidarity, consensus, and sacrifices of the workforce who are wholeheartedly dedicated to fulfilling tasks. That’s the willpower and culture of Petrovietnam.