Transcript
Guest: Camelia Vera-Manager QHSE – Rompetrol Downstream.
What projects with a sustainable impact are being implemented in the distribution stations?
Camelia Vera: I think Rompetrol Downstream has been preparing since 2006, 2007 to align to the sustainability requirements.
Same as for the colleagues from the refinery, on the retail side, 2006-2007 were pioneer years, years when we had to implement the European Directive requirements concerning volatile emissions from tanks and, later, from pumps, in a very short time. This step, I believe, was a first in retail because Rompetrol Downstream was the first retail company that started the implementation of this large, challenging project, and completed it in 2 years.
Since then, even from the project phase of a gas station, we tried to respect and implement sustainable projects and we came with each gas station concept, that are now in operation, that brought additional respect towards the environment, from the materials used to the technology of unloading fuels and selling them at the pumps.
I would like to mention the small projects and initiatives, developed by our colleagues, at each gas station, or at their workplaces: I would start with the change of mentality concerning the work environment.
My colleagues organized green areas, started promoted and implemented the concept of resource economy, starting from something trivial like saving tap water, saving electricity for lightning, they implemented different projects and elaborated monitoring programs on each gas station so that they became sustainable and keep the trend according to the legislation and regulatory requirements.
Other green projects, which are already being implemented in gas stations and depots that I would mention: saving electricity - "LED lighting project"; I would mention the project of solar panels from Mogosoaia station, I would mention the projects related to groundwater quality monitoring, namely a number of 120 stations, in the last 2 years, have received monitoring boreholes and this monitoring of groundwater quality is done where possible, we tried to connect the gas stations to the local water and sewerage network.
We started a ambitious project 2 years ago with the change of all air conditioning systems in the stations, a project that will take place in the next 3 years.
In terms of depots, we have successfully implemented the interior and exterior LED lighting, we had a beautiful and ambitious project on soil and subsoil protection by revamping the platforms, by modernizing the internal sewers, and now for the community of Mogosoaia, where they carry out their activity, or we carry out our activity at the Mogosoaia depot.
These are the projects in general. Small and feasible projects from waste management monitoring, from trying to reduce the amount of waste generated by the food area, by using composters and transforming this household waste into biodegradable compost that we can then use for green spaces in gas stations, informing clients, all these are present and future actions that we implement with respect to the legal requirements and with respect to the environment in which we work, in which we live, and, not the least, with care for us.
What were the safety measures taken for the colleagues from the stations and depots?
Camelia Vera: For the Rompetrol Downstream gas stations and depots, this last year was a challenging year, a year in which we had to learn a lot of things on the go, and our colleagues can be considered, somehow, the people in the front line. Because they were the ones who were in front of the clients, they were the ones who were in front of the authorities, they were the ones who actually carried the hardship and faced challenges every day.
Along with the legal regulations in force, transposed in action plans, in measures plans, together with the set of procedures, work instructions, what matters a lot was that each of my colleagues, by all possible means, was close to the colleagues from the stations and depots. We tried, and I think we managed to a large extent to establish communication flows, so that they feel us close during their everyday activity.
From mandatory legal requirements for our activity in relation to our clients, to the technical measures implemented to protect our colleagues, protection panels, protection infographics, communication to the clients, testing flows were ensured to test the colleagues for COVID.
Epidemiological triage programs have been implemented for employees, special efforts have been made to ensure, in a timely manner, individual and collective prevention materials: masks, disinfectants, disinfection programs, through all these regulations and measures we tried to be close to them and solve any atypical situation that may arise and need to be dealt with swiftly.
Each of my colleagues has contributed to creating and maintaining a safe climate for business.
All technical, organizational measures, communication channels, stability, and last but not least the dedication of our colleagues, have made it possible, to perform our activity safely and to ensure a safe climate, for each of our clients who have entered our gas stations or shops.