Eighteen years after being abandoned, a project that has a special importance for the mining industry, the traverbank of Klos, has gone further with the works started in August 2015, thanks to the support of the Ministry of Energy and Industry.
Accompanied by the Minister of Energy and Industry, Damian Gjiknuri, Prime Minister Edi Rama visited today the mine of Bulqiuze, where the company is investing 5.8 million dollars to develop this project that is an important link in the closed cycle production-processing. Through it, the ore will be transported from the fifth level of the mine to the selection of chrome plant in Klos. According to company executives, the primary importance of the project is that it avoids the flooding of the mine, in addition to increasing safety.
“This is a 5.8 million dollar investment started in August 2015. It is part of the mining complex of Bulqize, and its main goal is connected to safety at work, since it eliminates once and for all the possibility for the mine of Bulqize to be flooded, hence, it increases life safety first of all. In addition to developing the mine of Bulqize and the source of Qafe Buall, the ore of Bulqize is expected to be transported by a railway line to the plant selection of Klos, where once processed it will go to the Ferro-chrome plants. The Klos plant is ready. Approximately 1.2 million dollars have been invested”, the project manager of the company explained.
The engineering, who was part of the construction works of traverbank 18 years ago, and today has resumed them again along with a team of 60 people, said the project is of great importance for the development of the mine and the mining industry. Prime Minister Rama emphasized the importance of the investment to reactivate the processing industry, which provides a value-added to the industry. “The most important thing is that we switch to processing, which increases the added value, and in turn increases employment, salary and welfare.”
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Citizens of Burrel and of cities included in this region (Burrel, Peshkopi, Bulqizë, Mirdite and Lac) are now all equipped with electric energy meters, which will end the flat rate that was the only way of electricity payment for decades. Once successfully completed, this project will not allow any subscriber to consume electricity without paying for it.
Investments made by OSHEE for the first time after 40 years in the villages of this area, as well as those expected to be completed this year and in the following years, have restored regular supply with quality electricity, which has been lacking throughout this period.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Minister of Energy Damian Gjiknuri and OSHEE leader Cela were today in Bulqize to learn about the ongoing project, and those expected to be realized soon.
A significant investment by OSHEE, worth 150 million new ALL will include the cities of Bulqizë, Burrel, Shupenzë, Maqellarë for the renovation and construction of 64 new cabins, the replacement of the aluminium air lines, a source of serious defects, with A B C cable network. OSHEE General Manager Ardian Cela said that this investment will significantly improve the quality of service to all of these areas, significantly reducing losses.
In addition, he said that among other things, the 140 subscribers of the village Ostren i Vogel will be provided with metres, which will end the flat rate billing that has been applied for 25 years, as one of the residents confirmed. “We haven’t had meters for 25 years, and now we even have electricity”, he said.
Following a 5-million ALL investment made by OSHEE in the distribution line, 25 families of the village Gjinovec have electricity after 15 years. Another 15 families of the village Val-Martanesh, where electricity has been missing for 17 years, benefited an investment of 14 million ALL which restored energy supply.
“This investment we are inspecting is 180 million new ALL worth, and we are renewing approximately new cabins. The quality service is significantly improved, and losses are significantly reduced. 14 million new ALL were invested in 2013, and 44 million ALL in 2015. Investments have been completed in three villages where energy has been lacking for 15 years. Another good news is the instalment of the meters across the regional directorate in Burrel. All subscribers will have one”, Cela said.
The Minister of Energy Damian Gjiknuri noted that the current situation after the investments made in the energy sector is the product of the reform undertaken by the government.
Prime Minister Rama said that everything that is going on in the energy sector is an epochal transformation, and he reiterated the commitment of the government not to tolerate any abuse of electricity, such as rejecting or misusing the electric meter. “We are committed to end the flat rate billing. We are committed to install meters in every house and business. But it should be clear to everybody that those who doesn’t accept the meters or breaks them will not be supplied with electricity from July 1. The meters are part of the common investment. They are paid with the money of the common contributions, and they are a necessity, so that there will be no more flat rate at the expenses of the people, and everybody will pay for what they consume. Second, it will end the story that some pay and some don’t, for this story belongs to the past. Those who want to live with the past, will live in darkness, there will be no light for them.”
