Long live our mining community - KGHM and the Copper Belt celebrate Barbórka 2025

This year's celebration of Barbórka in the Copper Belt began with an official ceremony, during which awards were presented to the most deserving employees of KGHM. The distinguished miners received state and jubilee awards and honorary miners’ swords - a symbol of the miner’s honour, freedom and dignity. The ceremony was graced by a performance by the Brass Band of the Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mining Facility, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. A Lis Major parade marched through the streets of Głogów, ending with the traditional leap over a hide. The official celebrations will continue on 4 December, St. Barbara's day, when there will be the traditional miners' reveilles and solemn masses and services for miners and their families.

With respect for miners and their work

St. Barbara’s Day (Barbórka) and its accompanying customs are deeply rooted in KGHM’s mining tradition. This is a special time for both KGHM and the people of the Copper Belt. The traditional procession of Lis Major, the leap over a hide, and the ceremonies for the awarding of honorary swords and medals are a symbol of respect for the mining heritage of Lower Silesia. During the official St. Barbara's Day Ceremony attended by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Aleksander Cieśliński, the Management Board of KGHM headed by President Andrzej Szydło, representatives of the government, parliament, local authorities and the clergy, occasional greetings were expressed and congratulatory letters were read out.

In a special letter for St. Barbara's Day, on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, wishes for miners were conveyed by Jakub Stefaniak - Deputy Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister:

‘On the occasion of St. Barbara's Day - a holiday with a unique tradition and profound significance for the Polish mining industry - I would like to convey my best wishes and my highest regards to you. It is an honour to be able to address the entire mining community of KGHM, whose daily toil, responsibility and professionalism are the foundation of our country's energy security and the strength of the Polish economy’.

Secretary of State at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism Piotr Borys said: ‘We are proud of the fact that KGHM is growing so fast and developing continuously. We have successfully convinced the Ministry of Finance to reduce the tax on Polish copper. This will amount PLN 10 billion over 10 years. This is certainly an important step for KGHM’s development. A company that determines the future of our entire region. Please accept our wishes for safe work. Long live our mining community. God bless!’

Michał Jaros, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Development and Technology, emphasised the role of KGHM in Lower Silesia and thanked it for its engagement in the changes in the so-called copper tax:

‘KGHM is the heart not only of the Copper Belt, but of the entire Lower Silesia. It is a very important company for Poland. We know that KGHM’s history is more than 60 years long and I wish it to continue its operations for another 60 years. KGHM is the driving force behind Lower Silesia and must continue to be so. I want to thank all those involved in the changes in the copper tax. The project provides an opportunity for the further development of KGHM, a company that we all need very much. The industry needs to be developed through technology. Here, in Lower Silesia, a value chain must be created. We will create a copper valley here that will continue what we have achieved so far.

Wishes also came from the Ministry of State Assets. Grzegorz Wrona, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets, who was present at the ceremony, said: ‘Barbórka is the kind of day, the kind of holiday, where the whole Poland is reminded of what mining is. I wish you luck and hope that you will continue to show your highest qualities, just as what you mine is of the highest quality. I wish and hope that you will be true to what is on your banners. That you will work together. God bless the miners of KGHM!

‘The launch of the new investments is immensely important. Thank you very much to all of you, Mining Brethren. You can be proud of what you represent. From a European perspective, you can really see the importance of what you do, your technological thinking, and how you manage the deposit. The proof of this appreciation is the fact that it was possible to bring about a reduction in the copper tax - so that you can develop KGHM for the next few decades and, with the company, the entire region of Lower Silesia and Poland. Copper is in high demand. The stock price shows how much your work is worth. That 40 billion capitalisation is a big deal - I hope that the company’s value will reach a number in billions equal to KGHM’s age. Everything is ahead of you!’ said Robert Kropiwnicki, Member of the Polish Parliament.

The Lower Silesian Governor Anna Żabska also expressed her wishes to the miners' families:

‘The mining ethos of hard work, responsibility and camaraderie accompanies us every day. Above all, I wish you to feel this support and appreciation, which today is undoubtedly borne out by such a large number of members of parliament, ministers and government officials. I hope that you will feel this support not only on the occasion of St. Barbara's Day, but on a daily basis. To you and your families, I wish happiness and I extend my thanks to your loved ones for being with you every day, waiting for you and supporting you every day. God bless!’ Long live our mining community!’

This year's St. Barbara's Day Ceremony was the traditional venue for thanking and expressing best wishes to the mining community.

‘Barbórka is the best opportunity to take stock of the achievements of the current year. And these are not the achievements of the Management Board and executives of KGHM - these are first and foremost the achievements of the employees of KGHM. Today you are the heroes of this ceremony, so I would like to address you. I wish you that in the years to come safety at work, teamwork and the spirit of miner solidarity and care for one another will always be with you. This is because working more than 1,000 metres underground is no joke and you have to be responsible not only for yourself, but also for your colleagues. The Management Board of KGHM and I will make sure to provide the maximum means to enable your safe and efficient work. Long live our mining community!’ God bless!’ said Andrzej Szydło, President of the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

Decorations and honours

St. Barbara’s day in the Copper Belt is an occasion to recognise employees of the mining divisions for their exceptional achievements and years of service to KGHM. More than 60 people were honoured during this year's celebrations. State awards were presented: 14 Gold Medals for Long Service, six Silver Medals for Long Service and one Bronze Medal for Long Service. During the official ceremony, 30 employees of KGHM’s mines received the Honorary Miners' Swords, and 10 people received commemorative swords for their work anniversaries. In addition, 6 employees of KGHM received the ‘Badge of Merit for Safety in Mining’ awarded by the President of the Higher Mining Authority.

St. Barbara’s Day traditions

After the official Ceremony, its participants joined a procession led by Lis Major to Głogów’s Market Square, where those gathered witnessed the leap over a hide ceremony. This is a traditional rite of admission of new employees (known as foxes) to the mining profession. The spectacular procedure was presided over by the CEO of KGHM, Andrzej Szydło. Afterwards, the miners and invited guests went to a traditional inn dinner (karczma), while the ladies attended a ladies' feast (comber), as they do every year.

On 4 December this year, St. Barbara's Day will begin with the traditional miners' reveilles, which will resound from the early hours of the morning in the towns of the Copper Belt. At 9 a.m., a solemn Mass will be held in St. Maksymilian Church in Lubin for miners and their families. The Orthodox Mining Chaplain - Parish Priest of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Parish in Lubin also invites you to the Holy Divine Liturgy for miners and their families. At 1:00 pm, delegations from the divisions and companies of KGHM will lay flowers at the Jan Wyżykowski monument in Lubin.

Joint celebrations at KGHM divisions

KGHM's St. Barbara's Day celebrations are not just official ceremonies. Every year, KGHM miners celebrate the holiday at various gatherings and ceremonies held at the company's divisions. Dozens of events are held, including miners’ family members descending into the mines and meetings with former employees. At the end of November and beginning of December, the surface section of KGHM’s Mining Facilities is traditionally visited by children attending kindergartens and schoolchildren. Children have the opportunity to learn about the history of KGHM’s mines and interesting facts about them. They visit different parts of the mine including the lamp rooms, baths and mine rescue stations. In addition, during St. Barbara’s day, KGHM employees, dressed in gala uniforms, visit kindergartens and schools in the Copper Belt, where they talk about mining traditions and the unique characteristics of the miners’ work.

Investing in the future of copper mining

The Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. has decided to commence work on the construction of three new shafts: Retków, Gaworzyce and GG-2 'Odra'. The geological and hydrogeological survey is the first stage in the construction of these key facilities for the Company. The new Retków and GG-2 'Odra' shafts will ultimately serve as the material and haulage as well as air supply ventilation shafts, while the Gaworzyce shaft will be the exhaust ventilation shaft. The technological solutions planned as part of the investment project will improve the working conditions of miners.

The entire process associated with the construction of the new mine shafts is spread over a period of over ten years, with investment expenditures of several billion zlotys, depending on, among other things, the shaft’s purpose, depth and the geological strata present in its planned location. In line with the assumptions made, the funds earmarked for these investment projects will, in significant part, go to Polish companies and workers, mainly from the Copper Belt region.

A minute's silence

On the eve of the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Work Accidents at KGHM, a flower-laying ceremony was held on the premises of the Head Office of KGHM in Lubin, attended, among others, by members of the company’s Management Board, directors of its divisions and representatives of the group’s companies, as well as representatives of local governments. Those gathered paid tribute and observed a minute's silence for those who had departed for their eternal shift.