Covid-19 : Affiliates in Africa step up their efforts even more

Africa too has been hit by the COVID-19 crisis. Alongside the lockdown measures and closures of borders and airspace enforced by a number of governments across the continent, Total affiliates in Africa immediately rallied to help combat the epidemic – another illustration of Total’s commitment to getting involved to help communities.

Protecting Ourselves and Our Partners

All Total affiliates in Africa began by focusing their efforts on implementing protective measures for their employees, customers and contractors to help stop the spread of the virus.

Supporting Frontline Workers

Much like in France, several of our African affiliates, including those in Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Gabon, Chad, Congo, Madagascar, Burkina Faso and Malawi, decided to give fuel vouchers to the health authorities, which then distribute them to health workers who are required to make essential travel to test and treat sick people. 

In several of our host regions, the affiliates also made donations to funds set up to fight the coronavirus. “In consultation with the authorities in their host countries, our affiliates are joining nationwide efforts and making practical contributions to local initiatives,” said Jérôme Dechamps, Executive Vice President, Mediterranean & Indian Ocean.

Using Our Production Methods to Manufacture Hand Sanitizer

At the Mombasa blending plant in Kenya, our teams have adapted their expertise and their production methods to manufacture hand sanitizer. The gel is distributed firstly to our employees and then to the general public, thanks to a partnership with the Kenya Petroleum Company (KPC). In compliance with the World Health Organization’s recommendations, six people are working full-time to produce 8,000 liters of gel every day. In addition, our delivery trucks are currently being used to transport the hand sanitizer to the poorest and most remote communities, an initiative that is also being developed by other affiliates, particularly in Tunisia, Cameroon, Tanzania and South Africa.

“During the unprecedented situation we are facing individually and as a society, our affiliates’ initiatives and actions in Africa are first and foremost a testament to the spirit of solidarity that underpins our shared ambition,” said Stanislas Mittelman, Senior Vice President, M&S Africa.
 

Mouhamadou Makhtar Cissé, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, and Hamady Sy, Managing Director of Total Sénégal