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. This report provides details of the status and environmental problems found at the six priority sites (Kukes Smelter; Gjegjan mine; Fushe Arrez concentrator and tailings dams; Reps concentrator and tailings dam; Kurbnesh concentrator and tailings dump; and the Rreshen concentrator and tailings dam). The mission concluded that facilities at three sites in particular are particularly serious. They are tailings dams at Fushe Arrez, Reps and at Rreshen. At these sites, it is deemed that there is a very real need for international organisations such as UNEP and its ENVSEC partners to find or provide support for interventions. Interventions are required to control ongoing serious pollution and to reduce the potential for major environmental accidents that appear to have a high likelihood of occurring. The mission noted that there is clearly an increasing probability of serious environmental incidents the longer the sites are left without intervention. It was experienced that the mission was a very successful example of inter-organisational partnership. It benefited greatly from the collaborative nature approach and in-depth knowledge provided by the local partners. Indeed its conduct would not have been possible without the expert guidance and background provided by the representatives of the Geological Survey of Albania. Moreover, the international perspectives, expertise and practice-based legitimacy provided by the Canadian mining industry representatives underpinned the conduct of the mission. NRCan representatives provided a valuable exchange of views and experience of international practice and their expert technical support to the mission was invaluable. In addition to ENVSEC resources, the conduct of this mission, and in particular the participation of Canadian mining specialists was made possible by earmarked financial contributions from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). UNEP, as lead partner in the mission, firmly believes that not only was this Canadian technical resource a success and added value, but that the exchange has also provided a firm foundation and justification for other technology transfer, capacity building and international benchmarking efforts in the area of mining and environment. 2 UNEP – Albania Mining Risks January 2008 Background The mission team included Philip Peck and Christina Stuhlberger (UNEP/GRID Arendal) and Gilles Tremblay and Dr Nand Dave (Natural Resources Canada – NRCan). The mission was guided by Mr. Fatbardh Shushku and Prof. Genc Demi of the Geological Survey of Albania’s mining department. A minibus, driver and logistics support was provided by the OSCE mission in Albania under the auspices of Mr. Robert Mangham. The mission itinerary included: Day 1 – 21 March 2007 Puka/Mjava concentrator site (cursory visit), Kukes Smelter (viewed only), Gjegjan mine. Day 2 – 22 March 2007 The Kalimash chromite concentrator site (viewed only), Fushe Arrez concentrator and tailings dams, Reps concentrator and tailings dam, Rubic smelter (viewed only). Day 3 – 23 March 2007 The Lac Smelter (cursory visit), Kurbnesh concentrator and tailings dump, Rreshen concentrator and tailings dam, Rubic smelter (viewed only). This mission was linked to a significant body of earlier investigative work surrounding mining and environment challenges in Albania. Among other things, it constitutes an update of the information that was included in the report, South Eastern European mining-related risks: Identification and verification of “environmental hot spots” prepared by Philip Peck (UNEP GRID Arendal) and Alexander Zinke (Zinke Environment Consulting) in August 2006, which in turn was a continuation of an extensive ENVSEC1 desk assessment project from 2004: Reducing Environment & Security Risks from Mining in South Eastern Europe: Desk-assessment study for the Environment and Security Initiative Project (http://www.grid.unep.ch/envsec/mining/draft_report.php). In addition to ENVSEC resources, the conduct of this mission, and in particular the participation of Canadian mining specialists was made possible by earmarked financial contributions from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). 1Acknowledging the multifaceted character of environmental sources of human insecurity, six organizations with different mandates, expertise, and networks—the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), UNEP, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Regional Environment Center (REC) —have joined together to form the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC). 3 UNEP – Albania Mining Risks January 2008 Mission Objectives and Outcomes In general terms, this mission had multiple objectives that were: 1. to match the considerable but imprecise information received on mining related pollution sites in Albania with first hand experience of on-ground realities; 2. to identify and highlight sites where urgent risk amelioration interventions may be required; 3. to identify sites for pilot risk amelioration and/or demonstration activities suitable for the wider programme of ENVSEC and UNEP mining related activities; 4. to provide a basis for ongoing ENVSEC (and UNEP) support for environmental improvement in Albania’s mining areas. The mission contributed significantly to all objectives listed above. Related to the first objective; while the realities on the ground were found to be generally in line with data that had been documented prior to visits, a number of important items were found to be substantially different thus affecting both prioritisation to some degree. Moreover, much deeper insights were obtained into the types of interventions that are required at the sites in order to deliver acceptable environmental and security risks. In general, conditions at a number of sites were found to be more serious than had been expected. Addressing the second objective, while all sites inspected were found to be resulting in chronic environmental impacts – both local and downstream (in particular fast flowing streams running carrying mining pollution towards the coast and through agricultural zones are ubiquitous in Albania), three locations were found where urgent interventions are required to protect the environment and downstream water recipients from acute mass tailings releases rather than chronic pollution. Regarding the third objective; it was found that interventions undertaken at the identified Albanian sites will be relevant and of interest and suitable for inclusion in ENVSEC programmes. All represent situations and/or challenges that are shared in some form by other jurisdictions addressed by the ENVSEC initiative and its allied mining related work programme. As such, items such as “knowledge obtained regarding how to intervene for risk amelioration” will be relevant for other partners involved in reducing mining related environmental liabilities. Against the final objective, the mission team believes that there are important areas for ongoing support for environmental improvement (focusing on risk amelioration and/or remediation) in Albania’s mining areas. Scope This report briefly presents details of 11 sites, however only 6 sites that had been prioritised/shortlisted in the earlier reports could be subject to detail visits. Two high priority sites (Elbasan Smelter and Rehove Copper mining area) could not be visited in this mission. 4 UNEP – Albania Mining Risks January 2008 North Albanian priority sites The mission team found three sites where it was considered that there is a very real need for organisations UNEP, other ENVSEC partners, or other relevant parties to find or provide support for interventions. Interventions