Press Room

News / Aug 08, 2022

Approved gas reduction in the EU

News release, 8 August 2022

hovione logo on a brick wall in Cork Site

Last week, in an effort to increase energy security in the European Region and prepare for possible disruptions of gas supplies from Russia, the European Union (EU) member states reached a political agreement on a voluntary reduction of natural gas demand by 15% this winter. To respond to this engagement, each Member State will need to define the measures it will adopt between the 1st of August 2022 and the 31st of March 2023. To reflect the individual situations of Member States, some exceptions are expected, however, at this date details are still unknown. 

 

Although we do not expect the Hovione manufacturing operations to be affected, it is not unreasonable to expect that some of our suppliers of raw and starting materials may be impacted.  We are therefore preparing a risk mitigation plan, which includes strengthening our supply chain to reduce the impact that any disruption may have on our activity. 

 

One option we decided to offer to our customers is to purchase raw materials early and store them closer to our manufacturing site. If you are interested in exploring this option or have questions or alternate proposals, please contact your Account Manager. 

 

As your partner, we are committed to employing our best efforts to mitigate any serious impact that might get in the way of our delivering the products and services requested by our customers.

 

Thank you for your trust and collaboration through these unprecedented challenges. 

 

Patients need us. We are In it for life.

 

 

 

Also in the Press Room

See All

In an interview with Executiva, a portuguese media outlet focused on women´s leadership, Diane Villax, co-founder and long-standing leader of Hovione, reflects on her journey and the company’s development over more than six decades. Diane Villax’s career began at a time when few women worked outside the home. At 19, she joined a trading company as a foreign languages correspondent, where she developed essential business skills — including commercial correspondence, banking and export procedures — that later proved instrumental in helping her husband, Ivan Villax, establish Hovione in 1959. From its earliest days operating in the family home in Lisbon, Hovione adopted an international outlook. The company’s first major customers were in Japan, setting demanding quality standards that helped shape its long-term position in global markets. Over the following decades, Hovione expanded its footprint with the construction of its first manufacturing site in Loures (1969), followed by expansion to Macau (1986), the United States (New Jersey, early 2000s) and Ireland (Cork). The company grew into a global organization with more than 2,500 employees — including over 300 scientists — and a reputation as a preferred supplier to leading pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Throughout the interview, Diane highlights the values that have guided the company’s development: a commitment to excellence, a strong work ethic, and a focus on quality and long-term relationships. Although she did not have formal business training, she learned “on the job” and brought discipline, precision and structure to her role — particularly in the company’s early financial and administrative leadership. Now in her nineties and an active member of Hovione’s Board of Directors, Diane Villax remains engaged with the company’s evolution and governance, reflecting a continued commitment to its long-term development. Her story reflects entrepreneurial drive, resilience and long-term leadership — and offers insight into the values that have shaped Hovione’s trajectory for more than six decades. Read the full interview at Executiva.pt (in portuguese).    

Article

Hovione’s Diane Villax: “I was not brought up to be a business woman”

Feb 23, 2026