The injury of a miner in the copper mine in Spaç, Mirdita, has brought to light the problems with safety conditions in the mine that miners protested about a year ago.
A 48-year-old man was injured overnight in the copper mine in Spaç, Mirdita, after a rock mass collapsed, in an accident that has brought to light the difficult working conditions in the galleries managed by the Turkish company "Tete Albania".
The accident at work occurred while miner Edmond Gjikolaj, a resident of Rrëshen, was working underground with other colleagues to extract copper ore. According to preliminary data, the sudden detachment of the rock caught the 48-year-old, causing him multiple bodily injuries.
Gjikolaj was urgently transported to the Trauma Hospital in Tirana. Hospital sources reported that he is currently under the care of doctors and is reported to be out of danger.
Immediately after the incident, the local Police, led by the Prosecutor's Office and the State Labor Inspectorate, launched a joint investigation. Authorities are verifying the safety conditions and the implementation of technical safety rules inside the gallery where the accident occurred.
The incident follows a series of complaints from workers at the mine. Last year, Spaç miners held strikes and protests for more than two months, publicly denouncing the extremely difficult working conditions underground and the low wages offered by “Tete Albania Tunnel & Mining” sh.a., the company that exploits the mine through a concession contract.
The Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania (KSSH) has also reacted after the latest incident. Through a public statement, KSSH expressed solidarity with the injured miner and his family, while emphasizing that this accident is not an isolated case.
According to the union, the incident is a direct consequence of ongoing problems with occupational safety at the mine. KSSH accused the company “Tete Albania Tunnel & Mining” sh.a. of violating safety and health protection rules at work, demanding a full and transparent investigation, as well as holding the supervisory institutions and the company itself accountable. /BIRN/
