New technologies for the environment

By 2023, KGHM will be investing in new technological installations and modernising the existing ones, which will have a significant impact on reducing emissions of pollutants into the air, soil and water.

The Company is the largest enterprise in Lower Silesia. Being socially responsible, it cannot and does not want to evade responsibility for the state of the environment in which it operates. The ideas of sustainable development, and in particular respect for the natural environment, are one of the most important values of the company.

New dust extraction systems

Investments in new technological installations are related to the BAT As programme, the aim of which is to adapt technological installations in the Głogów and Legnica smelters to the BAT Conclusions for the non-ferrous metals industry, together with the reduction of arsenic emissions.

It is the company’s response to the recommendations of the European Union in the field of pollution prevention and control in the Community.

The BAT As project portfolio includes 26 main tasks, of which 20 at the Głogów copper smelter and six at the Legnica copper smelter. In addition, 20 other related projects will also be implemented (12 at HMG and eight at HML).

Under the Programme, new installations will be built or existing installations will be modernized. This will include the construction of modern filter systems or process encapsulation.

By the end of December, KGHM will have prepared the necessary expert opinions and technical designs. Next year, the implementation phase of the investment will begin.

The Company plans, among other things, to build installations that will improve the degree of purification of gases emitted during the production processes at Głogów copper smelter. The works will include, among others, extension of the Dörschl furnace dust extraction system and the Kaldo furnace. The installations for removing dust from process gases from the converters of the Głogów smelter will also be modernised.

Works are also underway on an innovative pilot installation to eliminate arsenic from the HMG process line. The solution will make it possible to transform arsenic into a natural mineral naturally occurring in nature.

In turn, investments in the Legnica smelter are related to the removal of pollutants from gases before the Solinox installation and modernization of shaft furnaces in the field of dust removal.

World class monitoring

KGHM Polska Miedź takes care not to compromise the quality of local water resources. Water is an important component of the copper production process. It is used, among others, in ore enrichment (flotation), hydro transport of waste, as well as in the technological line in smelters.

The total water consumption in the Polish mines of KGHM alone exceeds 20 million cubic metres per year. The flotation process in Poland uses mainly water originating from the dewatering of the mines. It then circulates in a closed circuit between the Ore Enrichment Plants and the Żelazny Most Mining Waste Disposal Facility. KGHM operates technologically advanced sewage treatment plants in each of its plants. It also does not allow water from the production process to enter surface waters or lead to groundwater contamination.

The Żelazny Most Mining Waste Disposal Facility is the only place where waste from the flotation of copper ore from all mining plants of KGHM Polska Miedź is deposited. It is one of the best monitored facilities in the world, also in terms of environmental protection.

In 2017, the company spent almost PLN 369 million on pro-environmental investments, of which the largest expenditure of over PLN 72 million was incurred on the Programme for the Modernisation of Pyrometallurgy at Głogów I smelter.

Climate Battle

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