Undeterred by stringent state measures to prevent the rapid spread of Covid-19 in the red zone provinces of Chon Buri and Rayong, PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC) and Gulf Energy Development Plc are continuing operations and new power generation projects under stricter hygiene standards, including a lockdown for hundreds of workers.
PTTGC, the petrochemical arm of national oil and gas conglomerate PTT, was quick to protect its staff against the coronavirus by applying the lessons it learned early last year when Covid-19 first hit Thailand.
The new outbreak pushed the government to declare 28 virus-plagued provinces red zones.
PTTGC's production facilities are located mostly in the Map Ta Phut area of Rayong province, and the company is taking additional action to control employee movement.
PTTGC president Patipan Sukontaman said the company instructed 300 staff in control rooms to stay in four hotels and only travel between the hotels and their workplaces to avoid contracting the disease.
They were told to comply with this measure since late last month when the new outbreak erupted.
The travel restrictions will remain in place until the transmissions slows down, said Mr Patipan.
He said the company is doing everything it can to avoid even one infection among its staff because one is enough to force a shutdown of production for a complete clean-up.
Such a shutdown would mean huge losses for the business.
On Jan 4, Electricity Generating Plc announced an employee at its headquarters in Bangkok was infected on Jan 1, causing 31 other colleagues to undergo Covid-19 testing and the company to sanitise the whole building.
"PTTGC has more than 20 factories from upstream to downstream petrochemical production as well as oil refinery facilities in Map Ta Phut, so this type of lockdown is crucial for us," said Mr Patipan.
Compared with other regions, the East is the hardest hit by the new outbreak, he said.
This region is known as the country's industrial hub.
However, Mr Patipan said, the virus spread has not yet affected PTTGC business operations, in part because its clients already bought plastic polymers for production before the Chinese New Year holidays next month.
Gulf Energy Development said construction of its new gas-fired power plants in Chon Buri and Rayong will continue and their operation dates remain unchanged between this year and 2023.
"We are confident new operations will be on schedule, in line with power purchase agreements made with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand," said Gulf executive director Yupapin Wangviwat.