Albanian mining-related risks: Identification and verification of “mining environmental hot spots” Prepared as a part of the United Nations Environment Programme coordinated ADA project and the Environment & Security Initiative: “Improving regional cooperation for risk management from pollution hotspots as well as transboundary management of shared natural resources” Updating the Albanian content of the UNEP 2006 mission report pursuant to March 2007 site visits in Albania January 2008 prepared by: Philip Peck, UNEP GRID Arendal
[email protected] &
[email protected] Christina Stuhlberger, UNEP GRID Arendal
[email protected] Gilles Tremblay, Natural Resources Canada
[email protected] Nand Davé, Natural Resources Canada
[email protected] Lund/Geneva/Ottawa, January 2008 UNEP – Albania Mining Risks January 2008 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report summarises a field mission conducted by representatives of UNEP/GRID Arendal and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) during the period 21-23 March, 2007 in mining areas in the northern part of Albania. The mission was supported by the Geological Survey of Albania and the OSCE mission in Albania. The mission was linked to a significant body of earlier work conducted by UNEP addressing mining related environmental challenges in the country. During the mission, 11 sites were visited of which six of these had been prioritised/shortlisted in earlier investigations. The sites visited included: the Puka/Mjava concentrator site; Kukes Smelter; Gjegjan mine; Kalimash chromite concentrator site; Fushe Arrez concentrator and tailings dams; Reps concentrator and tailings dam; Rubic smelter; Lac Smelter; Kurbnesh concentrator and tailings dump; Rreshen concentrator and tailings dam and the Rubic smelter.