During the period of 1993-1994, the industrial enterprises that cause environmental pollution have worked only partially and in general below their projected capacity. Despite this, the pollution caused by the active enterprises have been in the same levels as before, because no technical measures were taken for the improvement of the production technology, rather backward one. Also, no measures were taken for the re-functioning of the few existing plants.

One of the most potential polluters of this operational system is the industry of oil and gas extraction and processing. The out-dated technology which is still applied, the little concern about the effective utilisation of the equipment which avoid water and soil pollution, as well as non-compliance with the environmental protection requirements during oil searching and drilling are major factors of the environmental pollution in this sector.

Presently, the Deep Processing Oil combine in Ballsh is one of the largest pollutant activity which discharges large quantities of waste water ending in Gjanica river without being treated, as well as harmful gas emissions in the atmosphere (H2 S, SO2), whose adverse impacts are felt in the zone and city of Ballsh.

In the sector of mining and metallurgy, factories of the chromium and copper ores enrichment and the relevant mines have caused water and soil contamination, while the factories of copper smelting in Kukes, Rubik and Lac, where the smelting technology has lacked behind the contemporary levels cause considerable air pollution by SO2. Further more the SO2 gas in Laci Combine, designed in combination with the Factory No. 2 of the sulphur acid, has higher concentration than other smelting combines is directly emitted into the atmosphere, because the relevant factory of sulphur acid has not operated for several years due to technical and financial impossibilities to restart functioning.

The pollution of the environment from the chemical industry during 1993, and especially during 1994 has been less, because a considerable part of the chemical enterprises have been idle or have operated in short periods and at low productivity. Thus, the Caustic Soda Plant in Vlora, a potential polluter of the natural environment has not been working and was classified by the Agency of Enterprise Restructuring as an activity which does not meet the requirements of market economy, from the technical and financial viewpoint.

Despite the low production level, the Sulphur Acid and Phosphate Plant in Lac causes water contamination (H2SO4, H2SiF6) and air pollution (SO2 and flour gases), while a matter of concern in the Nitrate Fertilisers Plant in Fier is the emission of NOx and NH3 gases in the atmosphere and discharge of ammonia waste waters.

Also, thermo power stations emit SO2, soot, smoke and ashes.

Problems of environmental pollution in sectors of light industry are encountered in leather and textile factories which discharge waste waters without been purified or treated and cause in this way the contamination of surface waters from sulphur components, chromium and organic substances.

The contamination caused by paper factories, which used to be potential sources of the pollution of natural waters, presently has been avoided, since during 1993 and on the paper factories have partially operated, mainly with recycled paper. The production of paper from recycled material is a solution which does not create problems for the environmental pollution in the production phase; on the other hand it avoids urban pollution from wastes of paper and carton packaging.

Furthermore, the solid matter generated by the factories of plastic processing in Lushnja and Durres have polluted the environment. Another potential source of lead pollution is the metallurgical workshop of the plant of battery production in Berat. The situation created demands urgent intervention to lower pollution levels.

Table 1 Discharges of pollutants into air, water and soil for the first 9 months of 1993 from the enterprises of the Ministry of Industry, Mineral and Energy Resources