"The petrochemical pole of Tarragona is very well positioned to compete globally"
Interview with Anton Valero, President of the chemical Business Association of Tarragona
June 30, 2008
Anton Valero is President of the Association business chemistry of Tarragona, an entity formed in 1977 with the aim of representing the chemical industry as a whole, the interests of the Group companies, coordinate business actions and, according to Valero"make that citizens are aware of the uses and applications that have products that are manufactured with raw materials coming out of their companies to change the perception of society".
Anton Valero, President of the chemical Business Association of Tarragona.
Go directly to the point, why the pole of Tarragona is very active and successful;? the first of the State? Anyway, what have you that do not have other...?
The strategic location of Tarragona and its port, in the area of the Mediterranean and southern Europe, is an important factor, as well as the fact that the polygon of Tarragona is the leader in production of ethylene in southern Europe and Mediterranean and global production throughout the country. This leads to a continuous work to defend the competitiveness, investment, have open lines of innovation, maintain policies of social responsibility and be efficient in the processes and criteria of sustainability. The effort to stay in this position is constant and continuous. In addition, the University and the Catalan of Chemistry Research Institute complement very well complex, and that others have no insurance is the environment of a city like Tarragona, world heritage.
What has been the evolution of this petrochemical pole in the last few years?
The changes are progressive and correspond precisely to the process of constant adaptation to technological innovations, which are incorporated to improve processes, and to the demands. The petrochemical pole of Tarragona is very well positioned to compete globally, since it exports much of its products across national borders. In terms of human resources, we have in the city with a school of chemical engineering, a Faculty of chemistry and vocational training centers from where come very good technicians.
We are waiting to know the analysis and forecasts of Feique to understand the keys of the economic situation and the sector which can help us to better target our action. The price of crude oil, of money, the mortgage crisis, containment of demand, etc. constitute the preamble of a change in not only economic cycle.
On the margins of the socio-economic macrocifras, it should not be forgotten also the added value of all the activity that is part of the Social responsibility that perform both the affiliates such as the own AEQT.
Unfortunately, people often associate the word "chemistry" with the denaturation, even to the unhealthy. What do you think that you may have to banish this suspicion, this negative view of the chemical industry?
It should not be forgotten that the stereotypes are very difficult to eradicate and change. An element that contributes to this perception and fix this image is the lack of knowledge, and that is why we work to change these on the basis of the information transparency. Experience tells us that after a visit to any of our companies, see facilities and ways of working, people vary the perception that has industry and substantially improves its opinion thereon. And each year are 10,000 visitors to chemistry.
As tools to achieve this we have a chemistry classroom, an award for research in chemistry and a Forum for papers for high school students, and the existence of public panels to interact with society.
Our aim must be that the citizens are aware of the uses and applications that have products that are manufactured with raw materials coming out of our companies to change the perception of society.
Important topic, in which there is a huge sensation in recent times, is in the protection of the environment; how address you such sensitivity and responsibility?
Since 1992, within the framework of the fulfilment of the commitment of progress, our collaboration with the Catalan Government allowed to deploy the surveillance network for environmental quality; in 1995, in collaboration with the University, develop environmental self-assessment manuals, which were more procedures than afternoon was the ISO 14,000 standard.
A recent example is the framework agreement with the Department of environment of the Generalitat, to adapt the Catalan legislation to the most demanding European directives parameters and continuous improvement in environmental vectors of water, airwaste and soils.
In the Commerce sector say that a good service before a claim is one of the elements more loyalty to the client. In the case of the chemical industries, the management of incidents which have effects on the population is also a key issue covered you how this matter?
Firstly, prevention, since the technological design of facilities, production processes, the training of workers and the information society set the tone.
When they register incidents, there is a protocol for communication with Civil protection and the society of the most direct environment, in addition to the information to the media that there is a direct and seamless relationship. Finally, the information with own means: through the web, the weekly newsletter of the Association, through meetings with the associations of neighbours, etc.
Is it affecting the crisis generalized to the progress of the activity of the industries of the polygon?
We are working to ensure that this does not occur. What we want is that the petrochemical industrial estate has its own identity, to ensure the future of Tarragona and we believe that this element can be r & d. building distinctive research will contribute to the sustainable development of the territory.
What are the lines of action of the Association for the next few years?
The priorities are that has always been the AEQT, ensuring the overall competitiveness of the petrochemical pole contributing to the sustainable development of the territory. We leverage the different working committees in the AEQT and we will continue to interacting, as usual, with the society.
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Federación Empresarial de la Industria Química Española
