The ministry of energy and industry on Friday revoked 121 mining companies of their licenses after a major audit found that they were not operating in accordance with the law.
The ministry of energy and industry on Friday revoked 121 mining companies of their licenses after a major audit found that they were not operating in accordance with the law.
"During the audit, a number of companies were indentified that although licensed did not operate in accordance with the law, while others have accumulated debts toward the state,” the ministry said in a statement.
"Minister Damian Gjiknuri has issued an order to revoke the licenses of 121 companies, which account for 16 per cent of the total issued in Albania,” it added
According to the ministry, some of the companies whose licenses have been revoked are no longer in operation, but failed to rehabilitate the environment where they were mining.
Some companies are operating but are not correct in the payment of warranties for the rehabilitation of the environment.
Another group of companies held licenses but were now illegally mining in protected areas and their initial mining license has expired.
The ministry said that apart from the companies whose licenses were revoked, some others received fines and suspensions.
"We will fully support investors and help them fulfill their contractual obligations to the Albanian state,” the ministry underlined.
"However we will not turn a blind eye when investors fail to fulfill contractual agreements,” it added.
(www.balkaninsight.com, 10 March, 2014)
