Covid-19 pandemic is still very complicated and causing many Oil & Gas officials who work in overseas projects unable to return home. On 17th May 2021, leaders of Vietnam Oil & Gas Group (PetroVietnam) Trade Union and PVEP had an online meeting to encourage and motivate PVEP secondees in Algeria.

Attending were Mrs. Nghiem Thuy Lan - Chairman and representatives of PetroVietnam Trade Union. For PVEP there were Dr. Tran Hong Nam – President & CEO, Mr. Kieu Ngoc Anh - Chairman of Trade Union; Mr. Le Ba Tuan - PVEP representative and many secondees at Blocks 433a & 416b (Algeria).

At the meeting, Mr. Le Ba Tuan reported on production and business activities as well as the prevention of Covid-19 at the Project, and activities to ensure safety, epidemic prevention for secondees.

Overview of the Meeting

With the "double crisis" in 2020 caused by the Covid-19 epidemic and the decline of oil prices, and difficulties in the operation and production, PVEP secondees at GBRS Joint Venture Company have made great efforts to overcome challenges and constantly researched to come up with appropriate and effective solutions to bring the well and equipment system into stability. GBRS did not have any accidents causing loss of working days, ensuring safety in operation activities.

The main plans and tasks for 2020 assigned by PVEP have been completed with a high sense of responsibility, determination, science, creativity, hard work, unity and discipline. Although OPEC cut the production plan allocated to GBRS, the total oil production in 2020 still reached 6.35 million barrels of oil, contributing to the completion of the production plan and revenue of the Corporation in 2020.

As one of the overseas projects, with hard living and traveling conditions along with the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, many secondees could not do their shifts to return home. Especially, Mr. Le Ba Tuan - PVEP representative at the Project, Mr. Dao Anh Van - Acting Head of Finance and Mr. To Van Truong - Engineer of Production Department have been working in the desert since February 2020. In April 2021, PVEP arranged for those three people to return home, but due to the complex of Covid-19 in Vietnam in May, they were not be able to do so.

PVEP secondees in Algeria

Always share and understand the sacrifices and hardships of PVEP secondees who separated from their families and work in epidemic-affected countries, PVEP leaders have been implementing support activities through diplomatic channels to transfer medical masks and other materials for epidemic prevention. Besides, on the last Lunar New Year, PVEP Trade Union came to visit and give presents to the families of the secondees in Algeria, Peru, Malaysia... at the same time, supporting their families to create motivation to help the secondees feel confident to work.

On 12th April 2021, a delegation of 20 secondees left for Algeria to return to site after more than a year of working online in Vietnam, PVEP support them with necessary equipment for epidemic prevention such as medical masks, hand sanitizer and many others. Currently, 6 secondeess are still working online in Vietnam and ready to go as soon as allowed. They always proactively comply with Covid-19 prevention measures, creatively in work to ensure safety and health.

Chairman Nghiem Thuy Lan encourages staffs and workers of the project

On behalf of PetroVietnam, Chairman of Trade Union Nghiem Thuy Lan sympathized with the difficulties and expressed her gratitude for the sacrifice, dedication and responsibility of the whole team to the overall achievement of PVEP as well as that of the Group. Mrs. Nghiem Thuy Lan wished PVEP secondees good health, safety and confidence to complete assigned tasks. She also affirmed that Group and Trade Union would pay attention and concern so that all employees have a safe and effective working environment.

PVEP President & CEO Tran Hong Nam speaks at the meeting

For PVEP, President & CEO Tran Hong Nam praised and acknowledged the determination and professionalism of all secondees during a year away from home in a hard condition. Dr. Nam also requested all staffs to maintain production activities in comply with regulations on disease prevention, and regularly update on the situation so that the Company would have proactive action. PVEP leaders committed to create all favorable conditions and encouragement for the frontline to work.

All secondees in Algeria expressed the deep gratitude to the leaders of the Group and PVEP for the encouragement and concern. The whole team also committed to maintain health as well as determination to continue the work progress, and successfully complete the tasks assigned.

Leaders of PetroVietnam and PVEP take photo with the secondees in Algeria