Alcan Day, the second day

7:00 a.m. - Cédric checks his mails to verify if he has some urgent matter to solve. It’s all fine; he verifies water quality; these are the only 30 minutes of routine of Cédric’s job!
7:30 a.m. - We're having our “Coffee meeting” with Christian and Jean-Louis, for a short briefing about the open-cast mine.

Now, Cédric is driving us to the open-cast mine! I can observe some sprinklers spraying water in and around the roads. Cédric explains me that it is another environment measure to guarantee air quality. "With all the traffic of trucks, we produce a lot of dust. To calm it down, we sprinkle some water and we have a good air to breathe!"

9:00 a.m. - We are back to have a meeting with suppliers. Cédric and René Jean (plant responsible) have a mission today to explain to suppliers Sogerem’s needs in terms of water treatment. They will study together the best solution to improve even more their water quality. There, Cédric and René really use their didactic skills to explain and their negotiation skills to close the deal!

The moment I’ve waited for so long! Time for

“The voyage to the Center of the Earth!”
We got very well dressed: Overalls, belt, long boots, helmet, head lamp and oxygen mask. It’s a precaution, in case of fire inside the mine. Cédric gives me all the security instructions: “walk one close to the other, use the “pedestrians” zone when engineers are coming. And most important: don’t walk around if you get lost. We have more than 10Km of galleries; if you stay where you are it will be easier to find you!”
As I’m not too keen on becoming a “cave woman”, I hear and follow the instructions very carefully! And I’m not the only one to do so! SAFETY is a priority for the miners! As a student of a mine school, I’m almost a miner too. So, I want to be as good as miners are doing their job!
The underground mine just celebrated its 5th year without any incident. Cédric tells me “We are all very proud of that. SECURITY is every one’s business. When we celebrated the anniversary, everyone won a gift from the company… A fire extinguisher.”
In the mine entrance, we can see a big panel with a security checklist for the workers. I’m verifying the checklist. Everything is ok, so let’s go!

Even if we are walking in the dark, just with the light of our lamps, I meet very friendly people inside; I feel passion in the air! Hey, but we are not here just to walk around! Cédric’s mission is to verify the quality of the gallerie's structure, to ensure that miners are working in safe conditions.

In the galleries we have big fans continuously renewing the air in the galleries. Everything is done to promote the best working conditions.
We are getting out of the mine by an amusing 4x4 trip with Jean Luc, an experienced miner who brings us back to the surface.
Every miner is able to do all kind of jobs in the mine. They are also polyvalent in their domain and their work is never a routine! Jean Luc has his preferences; he’s very skilful managing drillings! At night, under snow and -10°C, he’s courageously ready to face the task!
But this is not the end of such an adventure! Once at the surface, we’re visiting one of the most important men in the mine: the one that will drive us 250m downstairs! Fasten your seat belts! He is responsible for his colleagues (and us!) when we are working underground! It’s a very respectful function, like the kings, they are mining driver from father to son.

Now it's time to lunch. Those who wish it have the possibility to have their meal at the cafeteria, which is Cédric's choice. It's a good way to have a warm and friendly atmosphere. Actually, the company looks pretty much like a family. Everyone in the company looks very satisfied. Sogerem is very neatly integrated in the region. Most of the workers are also farmers. They are managing their own business and consequently, each one has a little bit of a manager spirit. So everyone feels very implicated in the company and in having a friendly working atmosphere. It makes so much the difference when you work with smiling people! I really feel at home!

2:00 p.m. - We are ready for the committee of safety’s meeting. It happens twice a year; it’s an event, but I participate just at the very beginning. It is because the time is short and I’m so excited to discover the fluor spar plant in details. At 2:30, I come with René to visit it, and learn more in details how to prepare fluor-spar. As René is explaining me so greatly, I feel very comfortable to try to explain to you! So, take a look at my “Let’s prepare fluor-spar” blog post.

4:00 p.m. - I have a meeting with Nadine, the commercial responsible. She is a very competent and smiling person! She explains me about the main Sogerem’s clients and competitors. As Sogerem’s fluor-spar presents a very high purity and quality, clients have their preferences and Sogerem guarantees the supply for the chemical industry in France, in terms of raw material for the fluorhydric acid production.

My Alcan day is nearly ending:

We have a meeting with Didier, Sogerem’s general director for a short conclusion of my Alcan day.
He is a very kind and respectful man. I didn’t tell you, but since the beginning, Cédric told me he lived in Brazil and that he speaks Portuguese. During my two Alcan days, I had the opportunity to talk Portuguese with him. I really could feel he brought a bit of “brasilians” soul with him.
That moment was very nice and I gave him the impressions I had during my stay in Sogerem. He really can be proud of Sogerem. I was very well welcomed by everyone, I felt a very convivial environment, everyone transmitted me responsibility, engagement and motivation. It really gives me a will to stay. The coach Alcan chose for me is an exemplar professional and manager.

Sogerem’s team: an immense THANKS and CONGRATULATIONS for your competence!

I’ll miss you!