Earlier this week, Exit reported on the activity of surveying, mining, and drilling company GEOTEC Spa in Permet, on the banks of the Vjosa River.
Exit observed a helicopter flying overhead for several days, plus dozens of trucks and vans coming and going. Exit was prevented from getting any closer by workers at the site, but managed to photograph some of the activity.
Following calls to the companies office, several emails with requests for information to the company and the Municipality of Permet, a freedom of information request to the Municipality, and publication of the article, all activity on the site has ceased.
Exit observed that just hours after the article went live, the helicopter disappeared and all vehicles left the site en masse. There has been no sign of any work ongoing at the site since.
According to the GEOTEC company profile:
“GEOTEC specializes in onshore seismic acquisition for geophysical research and geological knowledge of the subsurface for oil and gas exploration and scientific purposes. Geotec S.p.A. is a national leader when carrying out geophysical surveys using the 2D/3D seismic reflection method especially in mountain and very difficult areas where helicopter support is necessary.”
The Vjosa River has been a controversial topic in recent years as activists both locally and internationally have called for the entire river to be designated as a National Park. This would prevent it from being developed, destroyed, or interfered with by way of hydropower plants and similar.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has refused to designate it as such, instead, giving some parts of it Protected Area Status. While this offers the river some protection, it does not prevent HPPs from being built, nor does it stretch to this part of Permet.
Exit spoke to several insiders with oil exploration and drilling companies in Albania and none of them were aware of any activities with GEOTEC in this area, in fact, it came as quite a surprise to them. Exit will continue to pursue answers regarding what work the company was conducting there.
