Miners celebrates St. Barbara’s Day in 2024 in the Copper Belt

A ceremony for the awarding of national medals and mining distinctions to distinguished employees of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A, followed by the traditional: Lis Major’s parade and the Leap Over the Hide - these were the events that on 29 November started the central celebration of St. Barbara’s day in 2024 in the Copper Belt. The official celebrations will continue on St. Barbara’s day on 4 December, when, among other things, the traditional miners’ wake up calls are planned at various locations in the region, as well as a solemn mass and service for miners and their families.

Long live our mining community

On the occasion of St. Barbara's Day, greetings to the mining fraternity and congratulatory letters came from all over Poland.

In a special message for St. Barbara's Day, the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, offered his congratulations.

‘On the occasion of St. Barbara’s Day celebrations, I wish the miners, the employees of KGHM Polska Miedź SA and their loved ones the very best of luck. I wish them safe and stable work for your entire community and all Poles who benefit from the effects of working underground. Thank you for your conscientious work for the benefit of the Polish mining industry and, through this, for the stability of the security of Poland’s economy’, wrote the President of the Republic of Poland in a special letter, which was read out by the Director General of the Office of the President, Barbara Brodowska-Mączka.

In a commemorative letter, Speaker of the Polish Parliament Szymon Hołownia wrote:

‘To the employees of KGHM Polska Miedź SA, I would like to express my thanks for their daily effort and commitment, for nurturing and enriching old traditions. A special word of appreciation goes to all those who work underground in difficult and adverse conditions. May Saint Barbara, the patron saint of the mining community, surround you and your family with protection. May she ensure happiness, health and success in everyday life. Please accept our wishes for safe work and the satisfaction it brings’.

‘I congratulate you on the results you achieve, because KGHM is one of the leaders in copper mining and production, but also in silver production. Thanks to you, your work and your organisational skills, the mined metal can serve Poles, but also people all over the world. Thank you for your commitment and joint work’, said Secretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets Robert Kropiwnicki.

The celebration of St. Barbara’s Day is a special moment for KGHM and the entire Copper Belt region. This is a time for taking stock and making plans.

‘The celebration of St. Barbara’s day has a special significance. It is an expression of respect for the miner’s toil and work underground. This year, the main ceremonies fell on the day on which the Day of Work Accident Victims at KGHM is celebrated. It is a time when we remember all the people who are no longer with us, and we keep memories of them. We pay tribute to all those who have departed for the eternal watch. Safe working conditions are one of the most important elements of the Strategy we are working on this year. Our priority is to ensure safe working conditions, since employees are KGHM’s foundation. For myself and on behalf of the entire Management Board, I would like to thank everyone for their commitment to the daily work. On the occasion of the miners’ holiday, I wish you and your families safety and good health. Long live our mining community. Godspeed!’ emphasised KGHM’s CEO, Andrzej Szydło.

Honoured miners

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. Nearly 70 people were honoured at this year’s St. Barbara’s day. The President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, awarded state medals to distinguished KGHM employees, twenty Gold Medals for Long Service and four Silver Medals for Long Service. The Minister of Industry, Marzena Czarnecka, awarded the Badge of Honour for Distinguished Service to the Mining Industry of the Republic of Poland to two people and the Director’s Mining Ranks to five employees of KGHM. Commemorative cords for work anniversaries were received by 10 people. In a solemn ceremony, 30 employees of KGHM mines became holders of Honorary Miners’ Swords.

Traditions and the present

After the solemn celebration, its participants joined a procession led by Lis Major to Lubin’s Market Square, where those gathered witnessed the Leap Over the Hide. 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.

This was followed by central events: Beer Tavern and Women’s Comber, during which celebrations are held in a fun atmosphere.

On St Barbara's Day, 4 December, the day will begin with the traditional miners’ wake-up call, which will resound from the early hours of the morning in the cities of the Copper Belt. Then, at 8.30 a.m., a Holy Divine Liturgy Service is planned for the intention of the miners and their families at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Parish in Lubin, and at 9.00 a.m., a solemn Mass for the intention of miners and their families at the Sanctuary of St. Maksymilian Kolbe in Lubin. On the same day, at 1.00 p.m., a ceremony will take place at Jan Wyżykowski’s monument in Lubin.

In addition to the central celebration of St. Barbara’s day, official ceremonies and division celebrations are also held at KGHM. Dozens of events in total, including miners’ family members descending into the mines and meetings with former employees. These are also the St. Barbara’s day meetings organised for mothers whose sons work in mining facilities. 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 will 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.

2024 at KGHM - stable results and investments

The past year was challenging for the KGHM Group, but stable in terms of financial and economic performance. For the nine months of this year, the KGHM Group recorded a noticeable increase in production and revenue. Commercial copper production in the KGHM Group reached 544 thousand tonnes, an increase of 3% compared to the same period of last year. There was a 2% increase in revenue. The company made capital expenditures of PLN 2.52 billion after nine months of 2024, an increase of 16% compared to the same period of 2023. The funds were spend on expanding infrastructure, improving efficiency and enhancing operational safety, including modernizing mining facilities.

In 2024, KGHM is continuing the Deposit Availability Programme, under which, among other things, 30.1 km of new workings have been completed at the Rudna and Polkowice-Sieroszowice mines. Also, new stages of expansion of the “Iron Bridge” Mining Waste Neutralization Facility have been completed.

Copper jubilarians

2024 at KGHM was marked by two anniversaries: the 50th anniversary of the Rudna Mining Facility and 45th anniversary of the Cedynia Copper Smelter. The birthdays of both plants were celebrated with a number of events and meetings with current and former employees. The history of the creation of the KGHM divisions was recalled and plans for the future were presented.  

We remember

This year, the main St. Barbara’s day celebrations fell on the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of work Accidents at KGHM. On this day, members of KGHM’s Management Board, directors of its divisions and representatives of the companies, as well as representatives of local governments, among others, paid tribute to those who had departed for the eternal watch, laying flowers at the monument located on the premises of the Head Office of KGHM.