Copper production is safe for the environment and profitable for the business - the objectives of KGHM’s energy transition set during the meeting of the Medical Council

A summary of KGHM’s key activities in the field of energy transition and projects for climate protection - the first meeting of the Medical Council of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. this year has taken place. The company’s projects were rated very highly by experts: the most important thing is the improvement of safety and quality of life for the workers and the residents of the Copper Belt.

“Sustainability activities for the benefit of people and the environment are top priorities for KGHM. The energy transition opens the door to a green future and is an opportunity for us and the Polish economy. As one of the world’s leaders in copper and silver production, KGHM is developing its business responsibly. We are aware that copper is a key element of the transition,” said Tomasz Zdzikot, CEO of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. 

KGHM’s activities related to its approach to the “green revolution” are described in its Climate Policy. The company is carrying out a number of projects aimed to reduce gas emissions and diversify the company’s energy sources. KGHM’s objectives are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030 and to achieve total climate neutrality by 2050. The company will strive to cover 50 percent of its energy needs in the next seven years with energy from its own sources - including RES. Currently, KGHM’s steam-gas power units cover about 20 percent of its electricity needs.

While diversifying its sources of electricity, KGHM is also focusing on energy from photovoltaic, wind, and hydrogen installations. The company builds solar farms, but is also active in the offshore wind power sector. In addition, KGHM is involved in the development of the nuclear energy sector in Poland. Last year, the copper industry leader submitted the first application to the National Atomic Energy Agency for the evaluation of the small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

KGHM’s pro-environmental activities are appreciated around the world. The company was the only company from Poland to be included in the Carbon Clean 200TM ranking for 2022. Polska Miedź was in the group of more than 6,000 companies from around the world recognized for their efforts to protect the environment and address climate change.

The company’s activities are leading to further improvements in living and working conditions in the Copper Belt and throughout Lower Silesia. The experts of the Medical Council emphasized KGHM’s role as a responsible employer in Poland. For many years, the company has been running programs and projects aimed at keeping KGHM at the forefront of worker health and safety.

The Medical Council of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. was established in 2019. Its members are physicians and scientists from major research centers in Warsaw, Szczecin, Łódź, and Wrocław, among other cities. The Council supports and initiates all the campaigns of KGHM and the KGHM Foundation that involve extensive local activities aimed at improving the health of KGHM’s employees and residents of the Copper Belt and Lower Silesia.