Elbasan toxic dust find adds to Albania pollution scandals

Environmental inspectors in the Albanian city of Elbasan found 318 tonnes of toxic industrial dust stored for months at the AlbChrome chrome factory after smoke from fires covered the area this summer, adding to long-running pollution and corruption cases that analysts say could affect Albania's EU ambitions.

The AlbChrome site, owned by Turkish group Yildirim, was temporarily shut after inspectors found no contracts for treatment or safe disposal of the dust.

Elbasan, Albania's third-largest city, has faced repeated fires and industrial pollution around the former Steel of the Party industrial complex. Professor Besnik Baraj of Albania's Academy of Sciences said a July 2025 fire at a waste dump near homes sent concentrations of toxic furans, dioxins, methane and volatile organic compounds more than seven times above safety limits.

Local resident Fatmira Serjani, who has asthma, is suing Elbasan city and the manager of the Eco-Elb landfill site over pollution from the 2025 fire. Her lawyer, Gentian Serjani, said the fire was probably deliberate. SPAK anti-corruption prosecutors said the landfill manager, Leli Kaja, was arrested Monday after allegedly being caught taking a bribe.

The pollution cases sit alongside Albania's incinerator scandal. Nearly 150 million euros in public funds were spent on waste projects in Elbasan, Tirana and Fier. Former environment minister Lefter Koka was jailed for receiving 3.7 million euros in kickbacks. Former deputy prime minister Arben Ahmetaj has fled to Switzerland and denies wrongdoing.

A separate waste-trafficking case erupted in 2024 after Thai authorities turned back more than 100 containers holding 2,100 tonnes of toxic waste from Elbasan that had been labelled as legal iron oxide. Prosecutors have issued 33 arrest warrants for customs officers and National Environment Agency employees over alleged involvement in the scheme, and three Turks and a German are also sought.

The European Commission said the fight against corruption is a key element for a country seeking to join the EU. It also said Albania's legislation must be aligned with EU standards before the environmental chapter of accession talks, covering waste management, water and air quality, can be closed.