To prevent the spread of the virus, the Polish Ministry of Health engaged Orlen Oil to start the production of hand sanitizer, after local newspapers reported shortages of the antibacterial gels and sanitizers in some shops.

Orlen Oil immediately took action to launch this production. Our laboratories have been working on it for several days, said Daniel Obajtek, president of the management board of PKN Orlen, said in the companys March 4 news release.

Popular brand hand sanitizers sold in retail stores typically contain some combination of ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, carbomer, tocopheryl acetate, glycerin, propylene glycol and isopropyl myrisate.

Orlen plans to begin making hand sanitizer next week and to churn out about 1 million liters. Governmental institutions will receive the hand sanitizer first. The sanitizing product will also be available in Orlen Oils 1,800 gasoline filling stations throughout Poland, the company said.

Orlen may be the first lube maker in Europe that repurposed its facilities for production of hand sanitizers.

The global outbreak of Covid-19 novel coronavirus, which started in China in the beginning of the year, has caused disruptions in everyday life in many countries and cancellations of many business conferences and events.

Headquartered in Krakow, Orlen operates lubricant blending plants in the Polish cities of Plock, Trzebinia and Jedlicze.