The "Steel 2023" conference, designed to be the largest such event in Central Eastern Europe, will be a forum for discussion of both challenges and opportunities for the development of the steel sector in Poland and the region.
The steel industry is of strategic importance to Poland's economy, as it supplies key sectors such as construction, infrastructure, defense and energy.
However, Poland relies heavily on steel imports, as domestic consumption exceeds production capacity.
According to Tomasz Heryszek, CEO of Węglokoks, a state-owned company that groups together steel assets, Poland needs to invest in its own source of production to reduce dependence on foreign markets and create jobs and value.
“Today we are looking for steel in distant countries, such as India, China, Japan, and even Iran," Heryszek said. "Why don’t we produce it in Europe, building a value chain, increasing GDP and creating jobs?"
He added: "As Węglokoks, since last year, we have emphasized the need to build a modern steel mill and rolling mill in Poland. If we don’t do it, others will, and we will be 100 percent importers of steel."
The company's plans to build a new steel mill in the city of Ruda Śląska will be one of the topics of the conference.
Deputy State Assets Minister Marek Wesoły said that conclusions from the event's debates could inform the government’s plans for the steel sector’s transformation, especially in the context of energy transition.
“We want to develop this industry, and we are looking for the best conditions and opportunities for its development," Wesoły said. "We also want the voice from Katowice to be heard in parliament and other European institutions, because that is where regulations are created regarding how and at what pace changes are made."
Polish Deputy State Assets Minister Marek Wesoły. Photo: PAP/Zbigniew Meissner
The government recently recapitalized steel companies from the Węglokoks group with PLN 560 million (EUR 125 million, USD 140 million), enabling them to implement an investment program, according to officials.
The results of steel companies are satisfactory, with Huta Łabędy earning about PLN 80 million in profit after the first five months of this year.
The consolidation of steel companies in Grupa Węglokoks is expected to create a strong entity that can compete in the European market, reporters were told.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP