About the story
It was the Economy Ministry that first examined in 1925 whether an iron and steel industry should be established with reference to the economic principles adopted by the newly established republic.
In 1925, the Turkish state only invited Dr. Lucius from Luxembourg to study the country's oil reserves, but also it hired Dr. Granigg, a mining professor from Leopen Mining School in Austria for examining coal and iron ores.
Dr. Granigg would try to find out whether Turkey has iron ores in amounts sufficient to establish an iron and steel industry and whether the coals in the country can be used to produce cocking coal to be employed in the iron and steel industry, and he would also specify a location which is economically most feasible spot for the iron and steel production.
During Dr. Granigg's studies, a general directorate was established within the organization of the Trade Ministry, and mines were examined by experts, and cocking tests of coals were conducted by a Belgian company, Maurice, and a German company, Koppers, while Medinger of Luxembourg undertook the analysis of iron ores. However, these studies could not be taken to the next stage, and it was not until 1928 that the establishment of the iron and steel industry could be brought to the agenda.
After several examinations by US economists and a Russian delegation as well as a committee of representatives from Sümerbank and the General Staff, Karabük was chosen as the right spot for the establishment of an iron and steel industry.
The following justifications were provided for the selection of Karabük: it closeness to the coal basins; its location on the railway line; the suitableness of the location for worker accommodation; and its suitable for the establishment of heavy industries in geological terms.
On November 10, 1936, a loan agreement amounting to GBP 2.5 million was signed with the British government, and the foundation laying ceremony of the facilities, contracted to H. A. Brassert company, was held with the attendance of then Prime Minister İsmet İnönü on April 3, 1937. The wide rice fields near Karabük village of Zonguldak, where Soğan and Araç streams which are two branches of Filyos river unite, were selected as the location of the iron and steel facilities. Symbolically enough, Turkey gave start to its move toward heavy industries by replacing the rice cultivation with steel production in Karabük.
The construction of Turkey's first integrated iron and steel production plan, whose technological installation work started on March 1, 1938, was completed in just two years thanks to determined and dedicated work from the contracting British company as well as Turkish engineers, technicians and workers, and after the power station of the plant was commissioned on June 6, 1939, the other units were gradually put to operation.
Feminine names to blast furnaces
In iron and steel facilities, blast furnaces are given women names such as Fatma, Ayşe, and Zeynep. This is direct allusion to female fertility. This practice is applicable in Karabük Iron and Steel Plant as well. The number of the people working for Karabük Iron and Steel Plant rose to 25,000 in some years. Every steel worker regards the plant in Karabük as his own house. The first thing every inhabitant of Karabük does in every morning upon waking up is to look at the smoking chimney of the plant. There are three shifts for steel workers. Blast furnaces should never be stopped. If a blast furnace is stopped, it becomes idle. Although they work amid high temperatures and close to
scorching heat, steel workers never complain about this. They tend to treat the plant as if it were a baby. They extinguish the fire with their never stopping sweat which is proof of hard earned income. Currently, there are 4,000 workers in the plant.