Two thousand of LIBERTY Ostrava’s employees and their families have enjoyed the steelwork’s first Family Day event to be held at the plant. The LIBERTY family and their guests, which included national and local para-ice hockey stars as well as Ukrainian refugees, were able to visit a range of fun stands, enjoy tours of the steelworks and were treated to a series of concerts from bands such as Mňága a Žďorp, Doga, Maxim Turbulenc and Marcel Woodman’s R’n’R’ Band.

The Family Day visitors were able to meet members of the Czech para-ice hockey team as well as some from the new Flamingos Ostrava para-ice hockey team, which is sponsored by the steelworks. Visitors could also test their climate change knowledge through a fun quiz developed by the GREENSTEEL Academy, while the GFG Foundation science show was entertaining even for those who were unfamiliar with science. Lovers of technology were able to look at the world’s longest Tatra truck, fire brigade trucks, ambulances as well as other interesting vehicles that are used at the steelworks. Almost 700 people also took the opportunity to take part in the site tours.

Children had fun at the children’s park or could take a rest at the relax zone with face painting or at the photo booth, while their parents visited the café stand managed by the Mental charity.  The youngest visitors were thrilled at the chance to meet and get autographs from the writer Richard Sklář, the author of famous detective stories from Ostrava, as he presented his new book for kids.

Sanjeev Gupta, the Executive Chairman of LIBERTY Steel Group, sent a personal message to the LIBERTY Ostrava employees: “Days like these, when all our families can meet and mix in friendship are more than just enjoyable, they are essential. Because family is the heart of our lives and the core of the Ostrava community.”

He went on to say: “Already the biggest steelworks in Czech Republic, and one of the country’s top exporters, and tax payers, Ostrava now stands ready to take its place as a leader on the world stage. With Ostrava’s CZK 8.6 billion GREENSTEEL transformation programme now well underway following the signing of the new hybrid furnace contract and the start of the first phase of our major solar project, I can promise you we will continue to thrive and prosper.”

Sanjeev also paid tribute to the more than 750 employees at the plant with important work anniversaries – from those with 15 years of service to the 140 who have been with the company for more than 40 45 years: “You are the vital ingredient. The people here who have helped to shape this business over the decades. Thank you one and all, what an inspiration you are.”

Further information:

LIBERTY Ostrava is an integrated steel company with an annual production capacity of 3.6 million tons of steel, which is used mainly in the construction, engineering and petrochemical industries. It is a domestic leader in the production of road safety barriers and tubes. Besides the Czech market, it supplies its products to more than 40 countries around the world. Together with its subsidiaries, it has 6,000 employees. Thanks to above-standard greening, it manufactures its products with the least possible impact on the environment. The mill belongs to the LIBERTY Steel Group.

LIBERTY Steel Group plans to invest 8.6 billion Czech Korunas in the LIBERTY Ostrava GREENSTEEL transformation programme over the course of the next eight years. The key element of the CN30 programme will be the replacement of the steelwork’s existing four tandem furnaces with two state-of-the-art hybrid electric arc furnaces and the building of a new power line. The new furnaces, for which the contracts were signed at the beginning of July, will be delivered by Danieli, a leading global manufacturer of plant and machinery. At the same signing ceremony, LIBERTY Ostrava signed a Declaration of Cooperation with ČEZ ESCO to identify and develop renewable energy and hydrogen technologies and announced the launch of the GFG Foundation in the Czech Republic.

In addition to the modernisation of the steel shop, the transformation will also include an extensive modernisation of the steel rolling mills, which will improve the quality of steel and expand the product portfolio with high added value products. The investment programme will also see the creation of a renewable power plants for electricity production as well as the development of the GREENSTEEL Academy, which aims to upskill the plant’s current workforce and encourage new people into the industry.

LIBERTY Steel Group is part of the global GFG Alliance owned by Sanjeev Gupta and his family. The GFG Alliance has three independent industry brands: LIBERTY Steel Group, the ALVANCE Aluminum Group and SIMEC Energy Group which share the same values and strive for a long-term sustainable future for industry and society. GFG Alliance operates in 30 countries around the world, with a total of 35,000 employees and a turnover of over USD 20 billion.