Vattenfall's operations are well prepared for the crisis
Vattenfall's operations are not being impeded by the effects of the coronavirus in the current situation. Plans to maintain secure operation of generation and distribution in the event of an even more serious situation are in place.
Measures have been under way within Vattenfall for several weeks to ensure generation and other activities critical to society. This is done using continuity plans that have been drawn up for Vattenfall's business areas and that are activated in connection with exceptional situations like the current spread of Covid-19.
Security of supply is maintained
The aim is to safeguard staffing and maintain security of supply. The resources are thus focused on keeping operations going in the power plants and facilities in Vattenfall's markets.
“For several weeks we have had both international and country-specific coordination teams in place which are monitoring and managing the situation with respect to Vattenfall's employees and operations,” says Magnus Hall, President and CEO of Vattenfall.
“Our continuity plans are in place, which means that we have developed procedures and preparedness to keep our operations going and the work is proceeding according to the plans,” he says.
Millions of customers
Vattenfall supplies millions of customers with power, heat and gas in eight countries in Europe, which makes it a fundamental part of a functioning society. The continuity plans have the aim of ensuring security of supply.
In Sweden, the nuclear power plants in Ringhals and Forsmark are now operating under a state of preparedness. This means that dedicated persons are managing and executing necessary decisions to guarantee secure operation and to implement the planned outage season.
Precautionary measures were implemented within the electricity grid operation as far back as in week 4 in order to secure important parts of the business.
Equivalent preparatory work has been carried out within Vattenfall's other operations, including the heat business with plants in Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as the wind operations, on shore and off shore.
Following developments carefully
Vattenfall's coordination team is following developments carefully and adapting the business to directives and advice from the respective countries' governments and authorities with respect to travel, work from home and avoidance of social contacts.
“ We are well prepared and instituting measures to minimise the effects of different scenarios. We are following the authorities' recommendations in addition to our own continuity plans, and continuously monitoring the situation,” Magnus Hall says.
Vattenfall has commercial operations in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK, Finland, France and Norway.
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