Kurum Failed to Honour Deadlines for Installation of Dust Filters

29 August 2005

Kurum Steel Mills still haven�t installed the required dust arresting filters, in spite of the fact that two deadlines (June 30 and August 14, 2005) have expired. The 3.5 million Euros investment has been postponed for the second half of September, at the earliest.

Kurum Steel Mills near Elbasan still await for filtering equipment to be installed.

The Steel Mills resumed operations after the summer break and cause atmospheric pollution of alarming levels that present serious health hazard for the population of the surrounding area.

Shpresa Banja, the Regional Director of Environmental Affairs, says that the pollution produced by Kurum will hit the Bradashesh area, and will not have serious impact on the city of Elbasan. Banja explained that Kurum has faced problems with the installation of the filters, having in mind that the Steel Mills work with outdated technology, and the new equipment has not arrived to Albania on time.

According to Balja, the unforeseen delays of the investment will be compensated with more intensive exploitation of the Mills. The completion of the filter station is expected to take place after September 16, after which the pollution will be reduced to acceptable levels.

The statistics and measurement show that the air pollution levels in Elbasan, thanks to the industrial capacities in the area (Kurum, Darfo, ECF) are three to seven times higher than the legally prescribed figures.