St. Barbara's Day (Barbórka) 2023 at KGHM

An academy for the presentation of awards to the most deserving employees began this year's St. Barbara's Day celebrations at KGHM. During the central ceremony, 60 people were honoured. State decorations: The Gold Medal for Long Service and the Silver Medal for Long Service were awarded to 20 employees. 30 miners were presented with Honorary Miners' Spades - a symbol of honour, freedom and the dignity of the miner. 10 people were awarded commemorative jubilee cutlasses.

The Central St. Barbara's Academy at KGHM is traditionally a time to recognise and give thanks for hard mining work.

In a special message for St Barbara's Day, the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, offered his congratulations and thanks for the miners' toil: - On behalf of my compatriots, I would like to thank you for your year-long effort, which is of strategic value for the national economy and the energy security of our homeland, and above all for the millions of Polish families to whom it provides the conditions necessary for life, especially in the winter season. I wish us all to be able to benefit from the country's resources for many more years to come, in line with our needs and those of future generations.

- KGHM has been building its position in the industry for years as a modern, global organisation. My sincere thanks go to all those who undertake the difficult and responsible work at the mine every day with great dedication and commitment. To the Management Board of KGHM and to all employees I offer my wholehearted congratulations, wishing them peaceful and safe work and personal prosperity. I am convinced that St.  Barbara - the patron saint and protector of all the paths of your life - favours you every day," said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in a special letter read out by the Head of the Prime Minister's Political Cabinet, MP Krzysztof Kubów.

Dorota Bojemska, Minister of Family and Social Policy, wrote in a commemorative letter: - I pay my respects to the efforts and work of the miners, and all those involved in the process of extracting, storing and distributing raw materials. I wish you all the best for your celebration. May Saint Barbara be a guide and patron saint, giving strength and courage in daily challenges. May your work be fruitful and rewarding.

- St. Barbara's Day is a special holiday and one of the most beautiful Polish customs, expressing respect for persevering and responsible work and the great mining tradition. On this occasion, I extend my best wishes and highest regards to all those employed in the Polish mining industry. You Miners are a unique community. Your work not only serves the individual regions, but is also of great importance for the successful development of the country as a whole, and its ethos is an enduring value that you pass on to future generations," the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Education, Marzena Machałek, conveyed in a special letter.

- Let us not believe and be persuaded that mining is a declining industry. Mining around the world is an excellent business that generates high rates of return, is growing, and in which people make decent money. The raw material and energy security of our country is to a large extent also due to KGHM - this is your merit, fellow miners - for this our country should and is grateful to you. I would like to thank you for a whole year, to wish you to find satisfaction in your work every day, to have both professional and private dreams. I wish that in your private and professional lives you and your families be surrounded by the patron saint of the mining state, St.  Barbara. Long live our mining community! Godspeed! - said Tomasz Zdzikot, CEO of KGHM.

SOLEMN AND TRADITIONAL

After the academy, a spectacular Fox Major parade set off for the Lubin Market Square, culminating in the traditional jump-over-the-fur ceremony, the symbolic acceptance of young employees into the mining fraternity.

In keeping with tradition, the day ends with miners' feasts: a beer hall where the gentlemen meet and a folklore event "Comber" where the ladies celebrate.

The celebration of the miners' holiday will continue on Saint Barbara's Day, the patron saint of miners.

4 December will begin with the traditional wake-up call, when mining orchestras will play in Lubin, Polkowice and Głogów. At 9 a.m., a solemn Mass for the intention of the miners and their families will be held at the Sanctuary of Maximilian Maria Kolbe in Lubin. At the same time, the Holy Divine Liturgy Service will be held at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Parish in Lubin. Then, at 13:00, delegations will lay flowers at the Jan Wyżykowski monument in Lubin.

MINING YEAR AT KGHM

Polish Copper's miners have many reasons to celebrate this year's St. Barbara's Day. Nine months of 2023 saw see very good production results from the copper company: higher ore production [23.3 million ton dry weight] and copper production in concentrate 303 [thousand ton]. Thanks to the significant improvement in working conditions at the GG -1 shaft working, there was a definite increase in ore extraction, copper and silver volumes, in the Głogów Głęboki Przemysłowy mining area (quarter-on-quarter Q3/Q2 2023, as well as year-on-year comparison for nine months).

KILOMETRES OF WORKINGS, HUNDREDS OF MACHINES, GROUNDBREAKING INVESTMENTS

The past year has also seen ambitious investment activities in the mining area. Among other things, 29.6 km of mine workings were completed, 180 mining machines were brought to the mines of KGHM, and the Central Air Conditioning System, which was put into operation, enabled appropriate working conditions in the area of preparatory and mining work.

The Deposit Opening Project also continued, with the launch of the deepest mine workings in Poland: the GG-1 shaft. The Kwielice shaft is one of KGHM's most important investments and the largest underground non-ferrous metals project in Europe. In June, the key connection between the shaft and the Rudna Mine was made.

Work is also underway on KGHM's thirty-second shaft, GG-2. In the vicinity of Słone, among other things, the drilling of shaft holes and preparatory work for the construction of the facilities necessary for the commencement of shaft sinking, together with freezing of the rock mass and design work, are being carried out.