KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. has selected the exact location for the construction of the new Retków mine shaft, marking the first of three planned shafts as part of a long-term investment in its mining operations. The decision was highlighted by a symbolic hat toss at the site by Zbigniew Bryja, Vice President of the Management Board for Development.
“We are embarking on a long-term process involving the construction of as many as three mine shafts – GG-2 ‘Odra’, Retków and Gaworzyce. These are strategic investments that will secure the continuity of production for decades to come and create jobs. As a result, we are also strengthening our position in the mining sector,” said Bryja. “A hat-toss is that first moment that sends a clear signal to the world that it has begun!” he added.
The project involves significant technological and logistical challenges but also presents opportunities for KGHM staff to engage with modern solutions aimed at meeting industry and safety standards. The main contractors assigned to this stage are PeBeKa S.A. and Cuprum sp. z o.o., both subsidiaries within the KGHM Group, with oversight from KGHM’s Mining Structure Development Department.
Jacek Kulicki, President of PeBeKa S.A., explained upcoming steps: “We will soon be introducing drilling machines here to drill exploratory holes in order to both determine the geological profile and obtain all the data for designing the shaft casing, the sinking technology, all the details that are very important.”
Sławomir Fabich, President of KGHM Cuprum sp. z o.o., noted regulatory requirements: “Everything is of key importance to the design, especially the surface facilities. We have to prepare an environmental impact report and obtain environmental permits for the construction of this shaft. After that, we will be able to implement the design solutions in practice.”
The full process is expected to take more than ten years and involve expenditures totaling several billion zlotys, depending on factors such as shaft depth and local geology.
Jan Lubaś, Head of Surface Drilling Works at PeBeKa S.A., described how technical decisions were made: “Although the hat-tossing sets the direction primarily in tradition, the final decision is based on concrete data. The location of the shaft is the result of a multi-stage analysis – from geological surveys to deposit development projects. Before actual sinking begins, the area is criss-crossed by an increasingly dense network of boreholes, thanks to which it is possible to gain a thorough understanding of layout of deposit, hydrogeological conditions and rock strength parameters.”
