Investments that transformed the plant and the town
 

The first major project I oversaw at the refinery was the piggery. It may seem surprising today, but that was the reality of those times. At a time when basic goods were rationed, the idea arose that large workplaces should set up their own livestock farms. On the site in Czechowice-Dziedzice, we built two buildings designed to house around 100 pigs. The whole infrastructure had to be put in place: a road had to be built, and water and electricity had to be connected. We organised everything from scratch. The building was subsequently handed over to a co-operative in Zabrzeg. It was an unusual project, but it captures the nature of those times and the challenges we had to face.

One of the most important projects was the construction of flats for the refinery’s employees. The factory was expanding, and people needed suitable living conditions. Three residential blocks were built on Sobieskiego Street, near the monastery: two with 40 flats each and one with 20 flats.

It was not an easy project. Construction took place at a time of material shortages and problems with contractors. We had to work hard for every stage, but thanks to our determination, we managed to complete it. Later, further buildings were erected on Bestwińska Street. In total, the refinery built around 250 flats, providing homes for hundreds of employees and their families.

Looking back, these investments were important not only for the plant, but also for the whole of Czechowice-Dziedzice. At the time, the refinery aspired to serve the town. One example of this way of thinking was the artificial ice rink. I had never built a similar structure before, so, together with the design office, we examined solutions used in other towns, including Oświęcim, Katowice and Tychy. On this basis, a design was drawn up, followed by the construction of a facility that served the local community for many years.

Another major investment was the company health centre. Previously, healthcare had been provided under much more modest conditions. This modern facility, housing doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries, became an important part of the refinery’s welfare facilities.

From Solidarity to new technologies
 

Before martial law was imposed, I became involved in setting up the first Solidarity branch at the refinery. The meeting was organised mainly by electricians. Around 200 people gathered in the large hall, but there were only a few of us from the engineering staff.

I chaired that first meeting and helped organise the union’s structure. I was also elected to its management board. It was a time of great hope, but also of immense responsibility. During the nationwide strike, we had to bear in mind that the refinery was a special kind of facility, and every decision required careful consideration and a strong sense of responsibility.

After the difficult 1980s, we went on to carry out a series of projects. Technical facilities, warehouses, tanks and installations necessary for the plant’s continued operation were built. One of the most significant investments was a production and bottling line for oils. Together with the director, Alojzy Wasyl, we travelled to Germany and Italy to learn about the available technologies and select optimal solutions. The project was subsequently carried out in collaboration with contractors.

Those times, however, called for a great deal of resourcefulness. Obtaining materials or equipment was often a real challenge. During the construction of the hall, special roof panels were missing. I went to the manufacturer and, thanks to a conversation and a barter deal — so typical of the economy at that time — I managed to obtain them.

The modernisation of the sewage treatment plant was a particularly important project. The refinery was discharging large quantities of wastewater, and the fines for failing to treat it adequately were very high. As a chemist, I developed a solution based on flotation. Thanks to this modernisation, we managed to achieve the required treatment standard and avoid fines altogether.

I also derived great satisfaction from commissioning Poland’s first plant for the production of granulated paraffin. Initially, we used Polish solutions, and the system was subsequently developed in collaboration with foreign partners.

Colleagues and friends
 

After years of working at the refinery, it is the people who remain the most important. I have particularly fond memories of Leon Kaplita, with whom I shared not only a professional relationship but also a friendship. I also remember Kazimierz Profus, Marian Rodak, Jerzy Kopeć, Władysław Micór and many of the heads and specialists in the various departments with great fondness. The refinery was a large plant, but above all it was a community of people. Everyone had their own tasks and responsibilities, but the most important things were cooperation, mutual trust and the belief that, together, we could achieve more.

Looking back over the years, I realise that not all ideas and investments stood the test of time. Some decisions were the right ones, while others were later viewed differently. All of them, however, became part of this place’s history. After all these years, I look at the refinery not just in terms of the investments that were made, the facilities that were built or the solutions that were implemented. The most important thing is that, for many years, I was able to work on projects that mattered to both the plant and the town. That is the greatest satisfaction of all: knowing that part of that history remains to this day.