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Energy and chemicals companies pivot manufacturing to support COVID-19 relief efforts

Around the world, companies in the energy sector are using their skills, materials and knowledge to help combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This follows an unprecedented call to action from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Chamber for Commerce (ICC), which said in a joint statement that ‘all businesses have a key role to play in minimising the likelihood of transmission and impact on society ’.

 US oil and gas company Exxon Mobil, in collaboration with the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI), have started work on designing and manufacturing reusable personal protection equipment  (PPE) for health care workers, such as face shields and masks.

The design that they have fast-tracked will use replaceable filtration cartridges to prevent contact spread of the virus, and the main mask will be able to withstand repeated sterilisation for longer use. Prototypes are currently being tested and reviewed by the US  Food and Drug Administration. Once approved, manufacturers indicate they will be able to produce as many as 40,000 ready-to-use masks and filter cartridges per hour.

‘Scaling solutions rapidly to address the global crisis requires significant investment, innovation and collaboration,’ said Tiffany Wilson, CEO of GCMI. ‘By partnering with ExxonMobil, we’re harnessing the expertise and capabilities of one of the world’s largest energy companies to accelerate our ability to realise  that vision.’

Meanwhile, INEOS, one of the largest chemicals companies in the world and the largest European producer of isopropyl alcohol and ethanol – two key ingredients in hand sanitiser – has announced its intention to build three facilities across Europe to produce 1mn  bottles of hand sanitiser per month. The new product will be manufactured according to WHO specifications and will be supplied free of charge to hospitals during the crisis.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder and Chairman of INEOS, said: ‘INEOS is a company with enormous resources and production skills. If we can find other ways to help fight the coronavirus, we are absolutely determined to do our part.’

In China, electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD has claimed it is operating the ‘world’s largest face mask plant’, less than a month after starting production in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The company said it is able to produce 300,000 bottles of hand sanitiser gel and 5mn face masks per day, equivalent to a quarter of China’s entire production capacity. It is distributing its medical-grade hand sanitisers to staff in hospitals across China.

Last year, BYD sold more than 113,000 plug-in EVs worldwide and currently has nearly 40,000 electric buses in service around the world.
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