Increased interest for the Albanian chromium ore

Tirana, June 3, 2008. Albanian authorities have announced that the Japanese corporation, Marubeni, was interested in the mining complex and facilities at Kalimashi. Kalimashi is a small locality near Kuk촩, some 150 km northeast of Tirana. Kalimashi, one of the largest Albanian chromium mines, was closed in the early 90′. The mine was considered, at the time, worthless because its ore has a comparatively low percentage of chromium. Further, the mine was built on a very difficult terrain and far away from main roads.
Albania has some four percent of the world’s known reserves of chromium ore. The most important reserves are concentrated around Bulqiza. During 2007, Albanian exported chromium ore worth Euro 36.3 million, or three times more, than in 2006. The main markets for this product are China and Sweden. In its heydays, the Albanian mining industry was able to export up to one million metric tons of chromium ore per year. (Tirana Times Staff)