COVID 19-related work absences put pressure on Spain’s petrochemicals plants

MADRID (ICIS)–COVID-19-related work absences are putting pressure on Spanish petrochemicals plants as the country goes through the peak of the Omicron wave, sources have told to ICIS.

The  nation of 47m reported on 13 January nearly 160,000 coronavirus cases; in the past two weeks, Spain has reported more than 1.6m infections.

Like in many other European countries, work absences of those who must isolate are putting a strain in several economic sectors, including petrochemicals.

“In many plants which are running 24 hours, there can be four workers in any given shift. In many cases, two of them can be on sick leave. One more absence in those cases could really put a strain on operations,” a source in Spain said.

Many petrochemicals companies are hoping experts’ forecasts that the Omicron variant may be peaking in Spain come true.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned earlier this week half of Europeans could become infected in the coming weeks, which would undoubtedly continue to mount pressure on the workforce.

A second source added “many plants” across the country were suffering the lack of personnel in January.

A third source concluded: “This is the pandemic of work absenteeism.”

Additional reporting by Caroline Murray