ARTYKUŁY INFORMACYJNE Trudna przyszłość KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

Abstract

Difficult future of KGHM Polska Miedź SA.A b s t r a c t. The paper presents the plight of KGHM Polska Miedź SA due to by the fall in copper prices on global stock markets. It has been noted that these prices apply to smelting copper. Meanwhile, the copper is in increasing quantities supplied to China in the form of concentrates. This causes a drop in prices of smelting copper which becomes less popular. Statistics since 2012 have recorded a permanent surplus of consumption over production of this metal. Therefore, the price of smelting copper will probably be at low level over the next years. It poses a threat for the future existence of the company. The exploitation of new deposits is conducted at a depth of below 1200 m. The rock temperature is about 55°C, which creates technical and financial problems. Mining work is carried out along the dip of the deposit at increasingly greater depths. In this direction, 10 km away, there is the “Wilków” natural gas field. It is proposed to undertake diversification of mining activities. Gold mining seems to be the prospective activity. Its economic concentrations occur in the mines of the KGHM, in the Lower Silesia region and abroad. Likewise, the company can achieve positive effects in investments related to the mining of diamonds.