We are delighted to shed light on the latest initiatives by GPCA member companies to help fight the coronavirus pandemic in the region and all over the world.
SABIC donates funds to support COVID-19 response efforts in Hubei and the Americas region
SABIC announced in April that it is donating USD 1.5 million in monetary and in-kind product donations in the Americas region to assist those most impacted during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic. This includes providing SABIC produced plastics products to be used in the manufacture and donation of vital medical equipment. SABIC, whose Americas head office is based in Houston, will donate approximately USD 1 million to food banks and community-based agencies, such as the United Way, in the communities where it operates to assist those struggling in the wake of the pandemic. Read more
SABIC also announced a donation of USD 1.15 million to China’s Hubei Charity Federation in aid of the fight against the coronavirus disease. Funds were designated to support the Union Hospital affiliated with the Tongji Medical College of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the Wuhan Medical Care Center for Women & Children, Yingcheng People’s Hospital, and Huanggang Central Hospital. Read more
Saudi Aramco contributes to Health Endowment Fund, donates coronavirus masks to Houston, Texas
In Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco and its subsidiaries presented USD 53 million to the Health Endowment Fund of the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia to support efforts to combat COVID-19. In particular, the endowment focuses on providing ventilators for intensive care units.
Aramco and its subsidiaries have also launched an employee donation campaign, Stay Home Stay Safe, to support vulnerable people during this unsettling time through the provision of basic foodstuffs, preventative equipment such as masks and hand sanitiser, and educational materials.
The campaign raised over USD 1.7 million, a figure that has been matched by the company, and the total amount of more than USD 3.4 million will be used to supply essentials to more than 20,000 households in over 15 cities across Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco tanks are also being used to store raw sterilizing materials for the Food and Drug General Authority ahead of being needed for manufacturing products that counter the spread of COVID-19. Read more
Saudi Aramco has also come to the aid of the US city of Houston, Texas, with a donation of 30,000 masks for first responders fighting the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak in the heart of the American oil industry. A statement from Aramco Americas said: “We are supporting efforts to protect fire, police and health responders in Houston through a donation of 30,000 KN95 masks to help the city and the major of Houston, Sylvester Turner.” Read more
1,500 ADNOC staff join UAE volunteers campaign
More than 1,500 employees of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have signed up as volunteers to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the UAE. ADNOC said it expected more staff to join the ‘UAE Volunteers’ initiative launched by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. The campaign aims to use the skills of members of society for the broader effort against Covid-19. ADNOC’s volunteers will work with the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority to support healthcare workers in the field, distribute vital supplies to the community and provide virtual support. Read more
Sipchem, Sadara cooperate to produce and purify ethanol to support Saudi Arabia’s efforts against Covid-19
In line with their social responsibility toward the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sahara International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) and Sadara Chemical Company have partnered to supply high-quality ethanol required for the manufacturing of hand sanitizers. The ethanol has been provided to local manufacturers free of charge to enable them to produce much-needed hand sanitizers, which in turn were donated to the ministry of health for distribution to the healthcare industry throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to combat the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Saleh Bahamdan, CEO of Sipchem and Dr Faisal Al-Faqeer, CEO of Sadara, praised the efforts of all teams involved in the project and in the government’s efforts to mitigate the effects of Covid-19. They emphasised that the government has shown wisdom in its efforts to minimise the impact on the kingdom, its citizens and residents, and they highlighted the fact that as local Saudi companies it is the duty of Sadara and Sipchem and others to contribute to such efforts. Read more
OQ staff join forces to help contain the spread of COVID-19
OQ has contributed to ongoing efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, with some 1,014 of OQ staff donating just above USD 1.5 million in one week. These funds will contribute to the purchase of test kits, ventilators, and other supplies required in the fight against COVID-19 in Oman, OQ said in a statement on their social media. In Europe, OQ Germany (Oxea) donated 3,000 litters of propanol – a key ingredient in the manufacturing of hand sanitizer and other sanitizing products – to a number of large pharmacies in Germany. In support to the latest innovation efforts to help fight the pandemic, OQ’s Sabla X Innovation Hub practiced “share” and “dare” with young Omani innovators to design and locally manufacture ventilators. In less than ten days, a prototype was developed and approved by the Ministry of Health and currently awaits mass production.
MODON introduces measures to support industrial sector during COVID-19 pandemic
The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, MODON, introduced a 25% discount off the annual rental fees for all invoices issued in Q2, 2020 or later and up to the end of 2020 for factories that have a valid MODON operating license. The authority also introduced a 90-day payment extension for all rental fee invoices issued to factories that have an operating license valid up to the end of 2020.
Companies will also be exempt from fees for approval of engineering drawings starting Q2, 2020 until the end of 2020, as well as from contract amendment fees starting Q1, 2020 until the end of the year. The period required to start operating for all existing and new tenants of industrial lands has also been extended by 12 months (50 percent) until the end of 2020; that is 36 months in total to start factory operations. Finally, temporary housing has been allowed inside factories for workers in accordance with the approved conditions and precautionary measures in place.
Sources: Refining and Petrochemicals Middle East, Arab News, SABIC press release, OQ, MODON, The National
We would like to hear from you!
While this is not an exhaustive list of all COVID-19 related member initiatives currently in place, GPCA will continue to update this page with the efforts of our member companies in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Whether your company has raised funds, carried out a donation of sanitary products, raw materials, sanitizers, health equipment, initiated a research and innovation project, or taken part in a local or global initiative or a community campaign, please do get in touch with our communications team at dima@gpca.org.ae and share your positive stories that we are confident will inspire others.
It is in times like these that our commitment to corporate social responsibility truly shines. GPCA thanks its members for extending their support to those who need it the most.