The former Katowice Steelworks, now a branch of ArcelorMittal Poland in Dąbrowa Górnicza, remains the largest steelworks in the country and the only place in Poland where steel is still produced in blast furnaces. Today, April 15, the Zagłębie and Silesia regions are celebrating an important anniversary – it was on April 15, 1972, that construction of the Katowice Steelworks began. This year's celebrations have a special significance – 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the steelworks. It was then, on December 3, 1976, that the first pig iron flowed from Blast Furnace No. 1. To mark this occasion, the SITPH branch in Dąbrowa Górnicza, together with ArcelorMittal Poland, representatives of local authorities, former and current employees, and all those who are close to the history of the Katowice Steelworks, commemorated the anniversary of the commencement of construction. Flowers were laid at the monument commemorating the groundbreaking ceremony.

The ceremony at the monument was attended by representatives of the Sejm and Senate, the President and Vice-President of Dąbrowa Górnicza, representatives of the Sosnowiec City Hall, the President of the Management Board of the Association of Polish Steelworkers (SITPH), and the President and Vice-President of the SITPH branch in Dąbrowa Górnicza. Among those gathered were representatives of ArcelorMittal Poland management, steelworkers' unions, former presidents of the Katowice Steelworks and councilors, representatives of companies and institutions collaborating with the Dąbrowa Steelworks, and the media.

"Today, as ArcelorMittal Poland, we are proud to continue this tradition, because Katowice Steelworks is more than just a production plant. It is, above all, the people who, through their hard work and commitment, built this industry, which is strategic for our country. For them, nothing was impossible, and they treated challenges as opportunities. Now, it is also the people who make up our ArcelorMittal Poland branch in Dąbrowa Górnicza." As heirs to the great Katowice Steelworks, we appreciate all our partners, local government officials, community representatives, and former and current employees. "It is you who support our development and transformation," Grzegorz Maracha, Director of the Raw Materials Division and member of the Management Board of ArcelorMittal Poland, delivered these words of President Koszuta during today's ceremony. "I would like to wholeheartedly thank all employees – both those who are with us today and those who have shaped the history of the steelworks in recent years. Thank you for your work, loyalty, and daily effort," he added.

Włodzimierz Bednarski, President of the Management Board of the SITPH branch in Dąbrowa Górnicza, also spoke during the ceremonial gathering commemorating the beginning of Katowice Steelworks. He has been actively working to integrate the steelworks community for years and collaborates with the industry, local governments, and educational institutions, organizing numerous initiatives to promote knowledge about steelmaking and its role in the economy.

"The 50th anniversary of production at the Katowice Steelworks is a special moment for reflection on the history, achievements, and importance of the steel industry for Dąbrowa Górnicza and the entire region. The Association of Engineers and Technicians of the Metallurgical Industry, Dąbrowa Górnicza Branch, ArcelorMittal Poland, and the Sztygarka Municipal Museum are organizing events commemorating 50 years of steel production in Dąbrowa Górnicza. This is an expression of gratitude to those who, through their knowledge, work, and commitment, have built the brand and strength of the Dąbrowa Górnicza steelworks over the years. National universities, the scientific and research community, and engineers associated with the Katowice Steelworks Association (SITPH) also made a significant contribution to this development, supporting modern technologies and innovative solutions in the steel industry," emphasized Włodzimierz Bednarski, President of the Management Board of the SITPH Dąbrowa Górnicza Branch.

This year, Zagłębie and Silesia are celebrating half a century of the plant, which laid the foundations for the modern steel industry in Poland. "To say that it is merely the solid foundation of the steel industry in Poland would be an understatement. The Katowice Steelworks shaped the entire industrial region of Silesia and the Zagłębie region, and shaped thousands of lives—because it was embedded in the lives of its employees, providing them with work, providing bread and butter, and serving as a center for cultural events in the area," wrote President Koszuta.

"For fifty years, the Katowice Steelworks has been an inextricable part of our city's history and the everyday lives of its residents. It's safe to say that without the steelworks, today's Dąbrowa Górnicza would not exist. Its creation was a massive undertaking. Nearly 50,000 people built it, and along with the steelworks, the foundations for the development of the entire city were laid—neighborhoods, schools, roads, and the places where the daily lives of new residents unfolded. For years, it was the breadwinner for many families, a center of local activity, a workplace, and also the source of our urban identity," said Marcin Bazylak, Mayor of Dąbrowa Górnicza. "Today, although reality has changed, the steelworks remain an important plant and a vital part of the city's economy." And although the plant faces new challenges, I believe that