Mines opened after 2000 will be monitored for environmental protection until 2028

2025-12-10 12:13:00, Ekonomi CNA

Mines opened after 2000 will be monitored for environmental protection until

All mines and metallurgies opened or inherited after 2000, whether still active or closed, will be subject to a monitoring process, with the aim of protecting the environment.

The project, which will be developed for the period 2026-2028, aims to identify pollution sources, design preventive measures, and ensure a clean and safe mining and metallurgical environment.

Monitoring to assess the environmental situation for these facilities will be accompanied by the drafting of an annual report, which will be carried out every year until 2028, at a cost of 4 million lek per year.

Data on the project has been published in the revised 2026-2028 medium-term budget program document.

"The project will address all mining and metallurgical facilities, active and passive, inherited or opened after 2000, in accordance with the Government's environmental strategy, with the mining and environmental legal framework, especially Law No. 10304, dated 15.7.2010, "On the mining sector in the Republic of Albania', as amended, and its implementing bylaws. The project will reflect the real situation, pollution sources, preventive measures and necessary interventions for a clean and pollution-free mining and metallurgical environment," the document states.

For the mining sector, authorities will implement another project to monitor the environmental condition of closed mines.

According to forecasts, such a project will be implemented every year from 2026 to 2028, at a cost of 6.4 million lek per year.

"Closed and abandoned mines are continuously associated with a number of problems. Undertaking such a project on monitoring mining hazards is of great importance, because it predicts and prevents the occurrence of potential mining hazards by creating safety for the life and health of people around mining areas, as well as for the preservation and rehabilitation of the natural environment, to gradually return it to a normal living and working environment," the document states.

According to data from the National Agency for Natural Resources, as of December 31, 2024, 540 exploitation permits have been granted, by type of mineral.

The highest number of active permits is for the exploitation of chrome ore with 243 permits, followed by the exploitation of lime at 147 permits, 31 permits are active for iron and nickel./ Monitor