Extractive Industry in Albania, not in line with world developments for environmental protection

Ledion Krisafi: Mrs. Hajnaj, what is the role of EITI in Albania? Anila Hajnaj: Simply put, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative is the most important instrument to control the management and exploitation of natural resources. It is the instrument used to understand whether natural resources are a curse or blessing for the population living in those regions, whose national wealth this is. The instrument that strongly supports and empowers civil society to control and force the government or business active in the extractive industry, to be open and accountable to ensure that revenues from oil, minerals or water resources are used for sustainable development of the country. The key to understanding what is offered by the governments in contractual agreements with the extractive industry business; What are the obligations that…
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Albnet-EITI, workshop in Skrapar: The royalty to be determined based on the amount of product extracted not from the sales

Albnet-EITI, workshop in Skrapar: The royalty to be determined based on the amount of product extracted not from the sales

The AlbNet-EITI civil society network held another workshop in the town of Corovoda, Skrapar on 28 February. The purpose of the meeting was to increase the capacity of civil society and local administration to implement the of EITI standards. The workshop was attended by community representatives, local government officials in the municipality of Skrapar and heads of administrative units in the municipality. The AlbNet-EITI Director who represents also the Albanian Center for Development and Integration, Anila Hajnaj, stressed the importance of the knowledge on the EITI initiative and its implementation in the extractive industry areas while noted the important results of this project funded by the Swiss embassy in Tirana. In her presentation she raised some problems related to the implementation of the laws and standards required by the EITI…
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Workshop in Pogradec: EITI, an instrument for citizens to benefit from extractive resources

Workshop in Pogradec: EITI, an instrument for citizens to benefit from extractive resources

The Albnet-EITI, the civil society coalition held a workshop in the city of Pogradec on 25 February 2020 where representatives of civil society, local government and community participated. The Coalition Director Anila Hajnaj said that the extractive industry in these areas should be effective and the income provided by to be invested for community projects. Through concrete examples she urged the local government to follow royalty procedures and reconciliation while emphasizing the fact that CSO representatives in MSG are requesting the government to change and improve the royalty allocation procedures. Project expert Sami Neza said the EITI initiative is mostly an instrument for citizens to ensure the transparency of natural resources and through in order local communities may better benefit. Participants recognized the importance of the initiative and asked for…
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AlbNet-EITI, workshop in Fier: Transparency by local government on the use of the royalty

AlbNet-EITI, workshop in Fier: Transparency by local government on the use of the royalty

The AlbNet-EITI civil society network held a workshop on February 18, in the city of Fier to increase the capacity of civil society and administration to meet EITI standards. The workshop was attended by representatives of civil society in the municipality of Fier but also by the municipalities of Roskovec and Patos, high school students, members of the Youth Parliament, teachers, representatives of the local government etc. Network Director Anila Hajnaj emphasized the importance of familiarization with the EITI initiative and its implementation in the extractive industry areas. In her presentation, she said that the initiative ensures transparency in natural resources and their responsible management. EITI expert Sami Neza said that civil society has an important role to play in implementing EITI while also introducing issues from the new Extractive…
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Peshkopi workshop: The complete lack of benefits from the extraction of natural resources

Peshkopi workshop: The complete lack of benefits from the extraction of natural resources

On February 11, Albnet-Eiti organized a workshop in the city of Peshkopia with community and civil society representatives regarding the implementation of EITI standards by the extractive industry as well as capacity building and coalition enlargement of civil society dealing with extractive industry issues. During the meeting, the head of the Albanian civil society network  AlbNet-EITI, Anila Hajnaj explained the need for the Peshkopi community and local authorities in general to be familiar with the EITI and how this initiative through its standards affects the lives of citizens. She also informed that besides the EITI standards information, the energy industry will be included in the EITI reports for Albania. The participants, members of civil society, questioned why their city did not benefit from the use of natural resources at a…
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Bulqiza workshop: The royalty of the extracted mineral of Bulqiza goes to the other municipalities

Bulqiza workshop: The royalty of the extracted mineral of Bulqiza goes to the other municipalities

ALBNET-EITI organized a workshop with municipality officials, civil society representatives and environmental, forestry and mining specialists in Bulqiza on February 10, 2020, regarding the implementation of EITI standards by the extractive industry in this municipality and capacity building and expanding the civil society coalition. The leader of the Albanian civil society network for the transparency of the extractive industry AlbNet-EITI, Anila Hajnaj explained that more careful management of natural resources is needed as they are exhaustive, therefore the benefits of the extractive industry should serve the development of a sustainable economy. Discussants called for greater fiscal autonomy. Also the state in the criteria for obtaining licenses should set conditions for companies to invest in community projects, Central institutions to consult with local authorities on terms of contracts relating to the…
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Workshop in Kucovë: New contracts to be primary consulted with the community

Workshop in Kucovë: New contracts to be primary consulted with the community

Albnet-Eiti organized on 6 February 2020 a workshop with local government representatives, community members and representatives of the civil society in Kuçova on the implementation of EITI standards from the extractive industry operating in that municipality as well as the increase of the capacity and enlargement  of the civil society coalition. The head of the Albanian network of civil society Albnet-Eiti, Anila Hajnaj asked the  participants to be more persistent in reallocation of the royalty due to the fact that the amount reported by the ministry is higher therefore does not correspond with the amount received by the municipality which is lower.  Mrs. Hajnaj stressed that the ectractive industry is exhaustible therefore as long as is operating the benefits of it should be stable. Sami Neza, Director of the Centre…
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Workshop at Ura Vajgurore: The transparency of companies operating in the municipality must be increased

Workshop at Ura Vajgurore: The transparency of companies operating in the municipality must be increased

Albnet-Eiti organized on February 5, 2020, a workshop with local government representatives, community members, teachers and students as well as civil society representatives of Ura Vajgurore, Poshnjë, Ciflig etc. The aim of the workshop was training on the implementation of EITI standards by extractive industry which is operating in this municipality as well as strengthening of the capacity and enlargement of the civil society coalition. During the meeting, the Head of Albnet-Eiti, Anila Hajnaj said that the CSO network is looking to force the government to increase the royalty transferred to the municipalities at least minimum of 25 % to 50 %. The government is in the phase of discussing and preparing a draft with these changes. She said that the municipality of Ura Vajgurore benefits very little from the…
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Workshop in Has: Environmental damages are not compensated by environmental fee.

Workshop in Has: Environmental damages are not compensated by environmental fee.

On February 2, 2020 was organized the workshop by Albnet-Eiti with municipality officials, representatives of the civil society and environmental and forest specialists about the implementation of EITI standards of the extractive industry. The need for strengthening of the capacity of the civil society coalition, a project supported by SECO was also discussed. During the workshop, the head of the Albanian network of civil society Albnet-Eiti, Anila Hajnaj, said the extracting industry is vulnerable and as such a community should provide standards through its exploitation. Hajnaj stressed that the extractive industry has created major problems in the environment while the municipality has low benefits from the royalty. She invited representatives of the community and civil society to join the eiti network to make the community's voice help in the management…
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Workshop in Kukës: The community must benefit from the income of energy produced by Fierza hydropower plant.

Workshop in Kukës: The community must benefit from the income of energy produced by Fierza hydropower plant.

In the framework of the project supported by SECO, Albnet-Eiti organized on the February 1st, 2020 a workshop with local government representatives, community members and representatives of the civil society in Kukës. The aim of the worksho was to raise the awareness on the implementation of EITI standards as well as to increase capacity and enlargement of the civil society coalition.During the meeting, the Head of the Albanian Network of civil society for the transparency of extractive industry Albnet-EITI, Anila Hajnaj explained the need for representatives of the city of Kukës and the municipality in general to be informed on the EITI and how this initiative through its standards affects the lives of citizens.She invited representatives of the community and civil society to join the EITI CSO network in order…
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