Investigating “oil earthquakes”

“This Monday we will release the order for establishing a technical group and make an independent study. Let’s not keep staying with studies paid by the company which is in fact the object of this study. Let’s find the truth”, Gjiknuri declared.

Gjiknuri added that if the investigation will determine that the cause of the earth shakes and the environmental pollution comes from the oil extraction activity, the sate will oblige the company to compensate the residents.

“I have had contacts with the companies. We have nothing against them. On the contrary, it’s on our interest to harmonize their activity. But we are also interested in harmonizing the interest of our public. If the activity harms the people’s health, then we will not allow it”, Gjiknuri declared.

The Minister of Energy also added that the government will monitor closely all concessions in the oil area, since they suspect that companies have been hiding revenues for not paying taxes.

“The foreign companies have received these agreements and now it appears that they are having losses rather than profits, when we are all aware of the large investments and purchases. The state must intensify the monitoring of these agreements and receive profits from the oil”, Gjiknuri declared.

According to a report introduced by oil specialists, the oil-containing area of Patos-Marinza has a pollution 18 times higher than the allowed norm.

As result of the oil extraction activity, dozens of hectares of agricultural land have turned barren, while the pollution has affected even underground water sources. Many residents are also suffering from the high level of blood carbon.

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