Albanian Mine Explosion Kills One and Injures Seven

Bulqiza's chromium mine | Photo by : Besar Likmeta

According to Medat Zogu, the mine’s manager, the explosion occurred around 10:00 a.m. local time on level 16 of the mine following a gas explosion.

“The real cause of the explosion has yet to be determined and will come only after the analysis will be carried out,” Zogu said.

Two of the injured miners have been airlifted to the Tirana military hospital to receive specialized treatment, while the rest are being treated in the local hospital in Bulqiza. 

Local police have launched an investigation into the incident but have yet to release any information.

The shaft where the explosion occurred has been sealed-off and specialized crews from Tirana will conduct a procedure to remove the dangerous gas from the area. Meanwhile work in other parts of the mine unaffected by the explosion continues.

Earlier this year, the mine, which is operated by the Austrian mining company DCM DECOmetal, stopped operating for more than three months due to a strike.

Nearly 700 miners who worked for the company returned to work on October 6, after agreeing a deal with management for higher wages and better working conditions.

Before their return to work, the mine was inspected by the Directory for Inspection and Rescue of Mines from the Ministry of Economy, giving it a clearance for a return to work.

Chromium is the most important of Albania’s mineral resources, and Bulqiza sits on one of the largest chromite deposits in the world. The mines have yielded about 18 million tonnes of high-grade chromium since they first opened in 1948. The mineral is used to produce steel and aluminium alloys.