A new plant has been added to our mining industry. The chromium enrichment plant in Kalimash started production after the conclusion of the first phase of the 3.5 million euro investment. Prime Minister Edi Rama visited this plant where processing and export industry capacities will increase thanks to this important investment. The latest technology in the field of mineral processing installed in this plant places it among the most advanced factories in the region. The second phase of the investment amounting to 1.1 million euros provides for further improvement of the processing technology and a full transition to the ferrochrome production.
“This is a new factory, with a technology of our times. In its initial phase, the investment amounts to approximately 3.5 million euros. The second phase will be 1.1 million euros. It uses the electromagnetic enrichment method, which is a new method that has not been used to date. All these dormant minerals will be finally activated”, Bukurosh Koçi, one of the investors said about the investment.
The plant is an investment of Eurochrome, an Albanian-Austrian-Swedish joint venture. The Swedish investor noted that one of the key advantages of technology in use is environmental protection. “We are building a very modern state-of-the-art plant, which is very efficient in terms of energy, as well as in terms of energy conservation, and very environment-friendly. All our water will go to a short circuit. We don’t use any kind of chemicals and we don’t have outflows.”
“An advanced technology has been introduced for the first time in Albania”, engineer Genc Demi explained. “It saves energy and enriches chromium without going through expensive grinding processes.”
The processing capacity of the factory is 40 thousand tons per year of previously enriched mineral and chromium concentrate, destined mainly for export. 150 to 200 thousand tons of poor chrome ore are expected to be enriched. The Albanian investor Bukurosh Koçi noted also that “the particularity of this plant is that processing costs are lowered, and we have a new product that can go directly for export. This mineral entered the enrichment process with 8% chromium oxide, and now it is 39%. It is ready for export or for melting. We intend to move to a complete process, to produce the ferrochrome.”
Investors thanked for the support of the government, which, they said, has provided them with a construction permit in a record time, and therefore the plant was built without delay. They also found the Prime Minister’s support in their ambition to expand investment in the field of mineral exploitation. “We’re lucky to have such opportunities, and to have people who invest. All we have is paperwork, and we must prepare paperwork very quickly. You didn’t believe me when I told you that we will immediately release the permit”, the Prime Minister told investor Koçi. “It is true”, he replied, “but you did it, and your prompt reaction has helped the progress of the investment.”
Deputy Minister of Energy and Industry, Ilir Bejtja informed that the competition for the mining license will be launched on Monday. “We are just revoking a permit they have obtained, and the competition to obtain a new permit will begin on Monday. The permit was issued by the previous government, and the area has been blocked since 2013. No investment has been made.”
Once the investment has expanded, investors plan to employ up to 150 employees. “If we are given the opportunity to use the mines,” Koci said, “at least 100-150 people will be hired in the area. Salaries are good, but differentiated based on work. From 2.2 million ALL to up to 400 thousand ALL.”
