Although mankind has known rock oil for centuries, it has not been known
find its optimal use. Mazers collected liquid from hollows in the area. Tried
use the "black gold" seeping onto the surface in various ways. It was used to lubricate the axles
horse carts, mills and used in folk medicine and as medicine for animals. Nothing
heralded such a great career for petroleum. It was only in the 19th century that Ignacy Łukasiewicz did something
what others couldn't. The cornerstone was two events: obtaining by distillation
kerosene by Łukasiewicz and Zeh (at the turn of 1852 and 1853) and the construction of a kerosene lamp by
Łukasiewicz and Bratkowski. Thanks to that, the inconspicuous pharmacist and independence activist became
pioneer of the Polish and global oil industry. Then also thanks to the said
Łukasiewicz, Trzecieski and Klobassy-Zrencki, the first oil mine was established in 1854
in Bóbrka. Two years later, the first refinery was launched in Ulaszowice