Zakłady Górniczo-Hutnicze “Bolesław” S.A.
Zakłady Górniczo-Hutnicze “Bolesław” S.A., headquartered in Bukowno (ul. Kolejowa 37), is a zinc producer registered in the Polish National Court Register under KRS 0000193278; according to the register, its principal activity is the production of lead, zinc and tin. The enterprise was established in 1958 through the merger of the “Bolesław” mine and smelter, was converted into a joint-stock company through commercialisation (entered in the KRS in 2004), and since 2012 has belonged to the Stalprodukt S.A. capital group. The company describes itself as Poland’s largest zinc producer and points to more than 70 years of tradition in mining zinc and lead ores. Its capital group includes HC “Miasteczko Śląskie” S.A., BOLTECH Sp. z o.o. and Gradir Montenegro d.o.o., among others.
The smelter produces Z1-grade electrolytic zinc with a nominal content of 99.9975% Zn, which according to the company exceeds the requirements of Special High Grade standards, as well as ZZA 04, 05, 06 and 08 galvanising alloys for continuous galvanising (700 kg blocks and blocks of up to 1,000 kg) and the Wegal MOD alloy for batch hot-dip galvanising of steel and cast-iron products. The main zinc markets outside Poland are Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and France. The company also offers sulphuric acid, supplied to markets including Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. Its research laboratories, accredited by the Polish Centre for Accreditation under No. AB 1140, provide analytical services for, among others, non-ferrous metals and alloys, concentrates, zinc- and lead-bearing materials and waste. Its management system meets the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
After the available deposits were exhausted, the “Olkusz-Pomorzany” mine ceased operations on 31 December 2025, and the company publishes information on environmental and water-level monitoring in the Olkusz area. According to the company, ZGH is increasing its production capacity by introducing technologies based on maximum use of recycling, and its activities include the recovery of zinc-bearing waste; through a merger it took over Bolesław Recycling Sp. z o.o. (resolutions of 2017). In 2021–2023 a gas-fired high-efficiency cogeneration unit with an electrical capacity of approx. 12.9 MWe was under construction on the smelter site. As an IGMNiR member, ZGH “Bolesław” represents zinc smelting and its links with the recycling of zinc-bearing materials.