Employees of the Kraków foundry Metalodlew have sent an open letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, urging him to help save their plant from impending bankruptcy. The company lost the right to use its production facilities at Ujastek street on 1 August 2026, after ArcelorMittal Poland, the owner of the property, let the lease agreement expire.
The 129-strong crew warns that the factory may disappear even though a plan to rescue it exists. In the workers’ view, the only real problem is the absence of an agreement with ArcelorMittal Poland, without whose facilities production cannot be continued.
Metalodlew is currently the last Polish foundry producing complete grinding sets for coal mills in power plants. The employees underline that this makes the plant unique in the country, and they argue that the state should not stand aside.
Investor ready, but talks fail
According to the open letter, a domestic investor has come forward and is willing to provide capital and continue operations. Talks with ArcelorMittal Poland were started, but they ended without a breakthrough.
ArcelorMittal Poland confirmed in a statement that the lease expired on 1 August 2026. From that moment Metalodlew no longer had the legal right to use the premises at Ujastek in Kraków.
– Over the last three years, the debt of Metalodlew has been systematically growing. ArcelorMittal showed a lot of understanding and good will to resolve the matter amicably – said Sylwia Winiarek-Erdogan, spokeswoman for ArcelorMittal Poland.
– During meetings attended by ArcelorMittal representatives, it was stressed that further foundry activity carried out by another entity must be connected with the repayment of the debt. However, neither Metalodlew nor the company indicated in the open letter as an investor responded to ArcelorMittal’s position – she added.
Government response awaited
The letter was directed to the prime minister, and employees are waiting for help from the state. So far, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister has not issued a statement on the case.
Further information on the matter is expected in the coming days, including an official response from the prime minister’s office.
Source: WNP.PL, Photo: DedMityay / Shutterstock
