“During this period, our first thought was the safety of employees,” said Horia Adrian, executive director of Holcim Romania. “We have introduced prevention measures and sought solutions to any possible problems we may have encountered, proactively implementing many of them. Thus, our regular activity continued in all these weeks without having registered any case in our operations.”

Holcim adapted its business continuity plans based on several scenarios depending on the evolution of the situation and measures of efficiency and financial discipline have been taken. The main objective was “to keep our promises to our employees and to our longer-term partners,” said Horia Adrian, for Energynomics.

In terms of business decisions and short-term economic forecasts, they stay “under the individual and collective responsibility to adapt to a new normal and to continue to adhere to strict rules of hygiene and physical distancing.” It is the only way in which the activity can continue safely, and the economy should thus receive “a new impetus”.

Specifically, as the leader of Holcim Romania said, the state will play an important role in revitalizing local businesses. “I think it will be necessary to reschedule the taxes of the companies affected by the pandemic and an infusion of state investments. It would also be a good time for the Romanian state to start new projects in the construction area, such as, for example, the expansion of road infrastructure. Public investment in the construction sector proved to be a good tool for reviving the economies of many countries in 2008 and it could significantly reduce the impact of the crisis on the Romanian economy.”

Holcim Romania employs about 800 people and operates in 29 locations across the country, including 18 ready-mix concrete plants, 2 cement plants (Arad and Campulung). In 2018, the company reported a net profit of 182 million lei, and a turnover of 1.27 billion lei.

In Romania also, as is the case for the entire LafargeHolcim group, there is a constant focus on improving the energy efficiency of operations and on reducing carbon emissions, investing in the best equipment and technologies available. More in the next issue of Energynomics Magazine, which will be released on June 30!