Heroic efforts displayed during times of Covid by resource and energy workers
19 Dec 2022
Commendable would be the least to say, heroic would better suited to the many workers in the energy and resource sectors who in the face of uncertain times during the Covid pandemic, stayed on to maintain operations at the various project sites.
The lockdowns, self-isolations had affected workplaces and how people across the globe are connected and working together. Employees had to quickly learn to cope with changes while dealing with technologies challenges of teleworking and balance work and life.
PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum President Anthony Smaré, during the 16th Investment Conference in Sydney, Australia, said it was wonderful to see communities come together again to discuss the opportunities to invest and contribute to PNG’s economic and social development efforts after a hiatus in the conferences due to covid.
“Covid tested us as never before. And the effort of all workers in our industry, at our mining and energy projects, particularly the thousands of Papua New Guineans and expatriates who stayed back on site on extended rosters to keep the operations running – whether as direct employees, contractors, suppliers and our landowner community – in the face of isolation quarantines, extensive testing, supply chain constraints, and a level of deep uncertainty that you can only experience with a once in a century pandemic, was truly heroic. Thank you for your contributions.” Mr Smaré remarked.
In echoing comments from Mr Smaré, the Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Hon. Pat Conroy, also commended the mining and petroleum companies for not just keeping their workers and communities safe during the Covid pandemic but also for the roles they played along with that of the philanthropic organizations to limit the impact of Covid in PNG.
The financial and psychological consequence of the Covid pandemic has been substantial to many companies and its workers. But the committed efforts of these companies and their workers to quickly adapt and resolve to safer and efficient means of doing business and maintaining operations while adhering to Covid safety protocols has meant they have stood the test of time during the pandemic.
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