Hungary's MOL converts plant to sanitiser production

Hungarian energy company MOL Group has begun producing hand and surface sanitisers to aid the battle against the coronavirus. The products have been in continual short supply both in Hungary and across Europe and the world.

MOL's lubricants division, MOL Lub, shifted the production focus of a windscreen washer line at its Almásfüzitő plant in one week. The unit is working around the clock and producing around 50,000 litres of sanitiser per day.

World Health Organization recommended formulas were used to make the two new products, which were tested and approved by Hungary's National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition in record time. 

As directed by the Hungarian government's coronavirus operative group, MOL Lub shipped the first volumes to state institutions across the country that are playing a key role in the fight against Covid-19, including hospitals, public utilities and waste management facilities. Production and shipping of the sanitisers will be continuous, the company said.

The products will also be used to protect MOL employees working at refineries, factories and service stations. The company says it is working towards making the products available at retail outlets throughout Hungary, as well as shifting production in Slovakia and Croatia.

“Sanitisers, which are one of the key tools of protection against the coronavirus, are in short supply all over the world,” says MOL Chairman and CEO Zsolt Hernádi.

“In light of the worsening pandemic situation we have, in coordination with the Hungarian government, we decided to put a production line at one of our plants in the service of offering protection against the virus. Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary solutions,” continued Hernádi.

“We truly hope that the hand sanitiser manufactured at the Almásfüzitő plant will be a meaningful contribution to the fight against the virus,” he adds. “I would like to thank my colleagues at MOL Lub for their exceptional efforts. This is another example of the dedication of MOL colleagues to the security and energy supply of Hungary. As long as MOL operates, Hungary also operates. We have a responsibility to ensure the continuity of energy production, refining, shipping and trading at all costs – even in the most difficult of times and often by making sacrifices. But these sacrifices will always be made by MOL.”

MOL Group, which is more than 25% state-owned, was one of the countries included in the Hungarian government's list of 140 state companies to which is has begun deploying special military task forces to aid the battle against Covid-19.

Despite the list being classified, MOL spokesperson Domokos Szollar, confirmed the company's involvement, saying that the military and police had been helping to overcome operational issues. These included providing protection to transit corridors and petrol stations throughout Hungary. 

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