Activities for the Sustainable Development of the Polish Steel Industry at the Turn of the 20th and 21st Centuries. The Case of the Kraków Steelworks

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present the changes undergone by the steelworks in Kraków Nowa Huta during the economic transformation of the Polish economy in the 1990s and the early 21st century. The content of the article demonstrates that the changes taking place were actions aimed at achieving sustainable development. The metallurgical complex established in Nowa Huta in the 1950s was a flagship symbol of the “socialist modernization” carried out by the communist authorities. By the late 1980s, the steelworks was on the brink of bankruptcy. The plant operated with outdated technology and archaic equipment, and thus required rapid modernization. The recovery process began in the 1990s but took a very long time. The measures undertaken sought to achieve sustainable development in Kraków’s steel industry. In addressing the issue of transformations within Kraków’s steel sector, particular consideration is given to the aspects of technological, economic and social sustainable development, as well as efforts to protect the environment, areas which had previously been entirely neglected (including air and water pollution, impact on residents’ health, nature, and the city’s historic fabric). The starting point for further action was the decentralization of the plant’s management, restructuring by converting individual organizational units into independent enterprises, and regulating the ownership structure of the steelworks. After several years of preparatory activities, this process was effectively implemented only from 2004, following the takeover of the plant by the group later known as ArcelorMittal Poland S.A. Modernization measures were undertaken regarding the plant’s equipment and the introduction of the latest technologies. As a result, the most environmentally damaging departments were closed, and production was halted in others. The transformations that occurred have had a positive impact on Kraków’s climate and the health of its residents. Post-industrial areas have undergone revitalization, and the authorities of Kraków are now obliged to manage the post-industrial space for new purposes. Due to the current relevance of the issues described, there remains a lack of comprehensive studies covering all the topics discussed. Most information is scattered across press articles and online sources.