Polish fuel giant sets aside millions to fight coronavirus

Polish fuel giant PKN Orlen says it will allocate a further PLN 60 million (EUR 13.2 million, USD 14.6 million) to help fight the coronavirus.

Daniel Obajtek.

Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz

CEO Daniel Obajtek has tweeted the company plans to buy about 7 million protective face masks for the country’s health service.

Jesteśmy z Polakami na dobre i na złe. Dzisiaj dotarł pierwszy transport ok. 1,6 mln z 7 mln masek, które przekażemy do Agencji Rezerw Materiałowych i fundacji. Przeznaczamy kolejne 60 mln zł na walkę z #koronawirus.em. Dziękujemy za wsparcie PAD, PMM, PJS 🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/QGQpmPwuvd

— Daniel Obajtek (@DanielObajtek) March 29, 2020

The corporation is already producing hand sanitizers at a plant that normally makes windshield washer fluid.

Hand sanitizer produced by PKN Orlen amid the viral epidemic. Photo: PAP/Roman Zawistowski

At the start of next month, PKN Orlen plans to launch production of a surface disinfectant at its plant in Trzebinia in the south of the country, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency has reported.

Meanwhile, state-controlled PKO Bank Polski has allocated funds to buy 7,500 coronavirus test kits for hospitals and medical personnel in the country, a news agency has reported.

Several other Polish state-run firms have also pitched in to help combat the coronavirus epidemic.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR