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Starting clean up works at Balez |
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Balez, Albania – Central Chemical Storehouse at BalezIn line with donor approval from July 2009, the Albanian Hot Spot Project in frame of the WBEP started with activities for clean-up of Balez chemical storehouse. In 2008 a national hotspots identification program implemented by UNDP and funded by the Netherlands Government identified the chemical storage site of Balez and a number of other related chemical storage sites of concern. The Ministry of Industry and Energetics (now the Ministry of Economy, Transport and Energy), therefore arranged for the identification and repackaging of dangerous materials in premises under their jurisdiction, and their transport to a central storage site in the village of Balez, close to the city of Elbasan. Today, the Balez chemical storage house contains approximately 140 tonnes of mixed chemical wastes collected from a number of other temporary stockpiles.
The store is managed on behalf of the METE by NFI Meniera Company (NFIM). Materials from institutions under the control of other ministries (e.g. the Ministry of Health) have also been sent to the store. The store contains several buildings, one of which is in good condition but others are not so. The site is permanently managed and guarded, however it is close to residential properties and a school, close to a tributary of the Skumbini River and therefore represents a potential hazard.The Balez intervention involves repackaging, temporarily storing, and transport of 140 tonnes of chemicals and wastes present at the Balez chemical storage site as well as of a number of satellite storage sites. This packaged waste will then be removed from the site for final treatment and disposal in accordance with national and international standards. A Greek Company has been selected to conduct the cleanup. Contracting is being finalized in December 2009 and the activities will be completed within the programme timeframe.
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Shqiperia