KGHM celebrates the 65th anniversary of uncovering a copper deposit in Lower Silesia

65 years ago, in the fields near Sieroszowice, a team of geologists discovered a copper deposit that was to change the Lower Silesia region and the whole country forever. This was done by a team of geologists led by Jan Wyżykowski. This is how the history of Polish Copper began.

On March 23, 1957, four cores extracted during exploratory drilling in the vicinity of Sieroszowice were delivered by Jan Wyżykowski, the geologist, to the National Geological Institute (PIG). Analyses confirmed that the samples contained chalcosite, the basic copper sulphide.

– Since the beginning of KGHM's existence, we have surfaced over 1 billion 400 million tonnes of the mine run. The geologist club’s dream about copper empire was turned by us into a huge success. KGHM, thanks to the enormous efforts of complete generations of employees, became a globally recognizable company – said Marcin Chludziński, President of the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

KGHM currently operates on four continents. Its main copper resources are located in Poland, in the Copper Basin. Several decades of mining operation are in prospect for the Company. This shall be secured, among others, by the Głogów Głęboki-Przemysłowy deposit area. Besides, the areas covered by the Bytom Odrzański and Kulów-Luboszyce concessions in the Lubuskie Voivodeship are explored by KGHM as well.

Our copper company is a world leader in the production of copper and silver. The Company as a Group is an employer for over 34 thousand employees. The Company makes investments in new technologies and innovative solutions. Last year, its Board adopted the Climate Policy aimed at the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

To complete the story, in 1960, the "Lubin under construction" Mining Plant was established to develop the discovery of Jan Wyżykowski's team. In 1961, the entity was transformed into Kombinat Górniczo-Hutniczy Miedzi (Copper Mining and Smelting Integrated Works). In 1991, the Kombinat was transformed into a State owned joint stock company, and on July 10, 1997 (25 years ago) the KGHM’s debut on the Warsaw Stock Exchange took place.

Like every year, the ceremony dedicated to the copper deposit discovery took place at the monument of Jan Wyżykowski in Lubin. Garlands and flowers were offered by representatives of the Management Board and the KGHM divisions as well as by delegations from the Group companies. There were also local government officials, inhabitants of the Copper Basin area and activists of the Society of Friends in Jan Wyżykowski’s honour.