Bajzë Rail Station
Encyclopedia
The Bajzë Rail Station is a railroad station located in Bajzë
, Albania
. It serves Albanian Railways as a freight line between Bajzë and Shkodër
with an extension to the Montenegrin
capital, Podgorica
operated by Railways of Montenegro
. Two freight trains pass daily through the station, hauling over 10,000 tonnes of commodities monthly. Long term plans exist to establish and operate international passenger trains between Albania and Montenegro via Bajzë. The vast majority of Albanian entrepreneurs import their goods through the railway line from all over Europe, as transport through train is about 50% cheaper than road transport. Cleaning of toxic chemicals, which had been dumped during 1991-1992, finished in 2009.
was built between 1984 and 1985. It began operations on 11 January 1985 with regular traffic beginning 6 August 1986. The line fell into disuse in 1991 due to trade sanctions of Yugoslavia
. The Bajzë-Shkodër line (with the exception of Han i Hotit) gradually reopened beginning in 1992, officially reopening in February 1996. A reopening of the Han i Hotit-Bajzë line was scheduled for 15 November 1996 but was cancelled. The track was later badly damaged due to civil unrest in 1997.
In April 2002, reconstruction of the line between the Montenegrin border at Han i Hotit and Bajzë was completed. Before it was connected with the rest of the Albanian railway network, the Hani i Hotit-Bajzë line had transported a total of 4,800 tonnes of commodities. By March 2003, the line between Bajzë and Shkodër was completed with 365 million lek
funded by the Albanian government. A ceremony held on 6 March 2003 officially marked the opening of the Bajzë - Shkodër. As a sign of mutual cooperation, then Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano
and a then Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister traveled to Tuzi
in Montenegro on a special train operating on this line.
and phenylmercury acetate
, both banned in the European Union
since 1983. Importing was halted when the Albanian government noticed that the pesticides were outdated. Following complaints, the German authorities agreed to return the chemicals to Germany. In the meantime, however, local Albanians had emptied many containers in order to use them for household purposes. Much of the contents were emptied directly into the ground, eventually dispersing into Lake Shkodër. It was later reported that many cattle and sheep from the vicinity had died after the incident. Moreover, in subsequent years, fishermen from Lake Shkodër have reported a mass death of fish in the lake.
Despite expressing concern, public health institutions have not made any detailed analysis of the situation of pollution in the region. In recent years, Mayor Gjovalin Veshtaj reported an increase in cases of people suffering with cancer in the surrounding area for many years where these pesticides were located, relating this factor to their presence. Locals also associate the presence of pesticides with chronic headaches and birth defects.
Foods imported via Bajzë were at risk of being contaminated from the toxic waste. Wind also accounted for much of the contamination, which could have spread as far as 50 kilometres from the station, affecting crops, livestock and the local population.
There was approximately 200-250 tonnes of toxic waste located at the rail station facilities. However, a preliminary investigation led by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) revealed that the toxic waste was in fact composed of 200 tonnes of leather rags and 80 tonnes of sodium hexafluorosilicate (Na2SiF6). The presence of sodium hexafluorosilicate was reported to be due to toxic waste dumping performed by the chemical-metallurgical plant located in Elbasan
.
The UNDP is currently in charge of a 2.2 million USD programme aimed at clearing the toxic waste, with funding from the Albanian and Dutch
governments. Cleanup efforts were scheduled to occur between September 2007 and March 2010. As of September 2009, the rail station had been cleared of all remaining toxic waste.
Bajze
Bajzë is a city in the Kastrat Municipality, Malësi e Madhe District, Shkodër County, northern Albania. It has a population of 2,346.- Road :Bajzë is located on the European route E762, important for its economic development...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. It serves Albanian Railways as a freight line between Bajzë and Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
with an extension to the Montenegrin
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
capital, Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
operated by Railways of Montenegro
Railways of Montenegro
Rail transport in Montenegro is operated by three separate companies, which independently handle railway infrastructure, passenger transport and cargo transport.Montenegro is a member of the International Union of Railways...
. Two freight trains pass daily through the station, hauling over 10,000 tonnes of commodities monthly. Long term plans exist to establish and operate international passenger trains between Albania and Montenegro via Bajzë. The vast majority of Albanian entrepreneurs import their goods through the railway line from all over Europe, as transport through train is about 50% cheaper than road transport. Cleaning of toxic chemicals, which had been dumped during 1991-1992, finished in 2009.
History
The Shkodër-Podgorica freight linePodgorica–Shkodër railway
The Podgorica–Shkodër railway is a railway connecting Albania and Montenegro, used primarily for freight-purposes only. It is Albania's only international rail link. Although initially built between 1984–1985, it fell into disuse in 1991 and later fully reopened in 2003...
was built between 1984 and 1985. It began operations on 11 January 1985 with regular traffic beginning 6 August 1986. The line fell into disuse in 1991 due to trade sanctions of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. The Bajzë-Shkodër line (with the exception of Han i Hotit) gradually reopened beginning in 1992, officially reopening in February 1996. A reopening of the Han i Hotit-Bajzë line was scheduled for 15 November 1996 but was cancelled. The track was later badly damaged due to civil unrest in 1997.
In April 2002, reconstruction of the line between the Montenegrin border at Han i Hotit and Bajzë was completed. Before it was connected with the rest of the Albanian railway network, the Hani i Hotit-Bajzë line had transported a total of 4,800 tonnes of commodities. By March 2003, the line between Bajzë and Shkodër was completed with 365 million lek
Albanian lek
The lek is the official currency of Albania. It is subdivided into 100 qindarka , although qindarka are no longer issued.-Names:...
funded by the Albanian government. A ceremony held on 6 March 2003 officially marked the opening of the Bajzë - Shkodër. As a sign of mutual cooperation, then Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano
Fatos Nano
Fatos Thanas Nano is an Albanian economist who was Prime Minister of Albania during several periods, the first leader of the Socialist Party of Albania, and member of the Albanian Parliament from 1991 to 1996 and 1997 to 2009...
and a then Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister traveled to Tuzi
Tuzi
Tuzi is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar. The exact location of Tuzi is...
in Montenegro on a special train operating on this line.
Poison Chemical Dumping
In the beginning of the 1990s, a range of expired pesticides, industrial chemicals and various other materials were deposited in the warehouse of the rail station. Between 1991 and 1992, German company Schmidt-Cretan temporarily imported and stowed 480 tonnes of dangerous chemicals in Bajzë. Of these chemicals, the most dangerous were toxapheneToxaphene
Toxaphene is an insecticide. It is a mixture of closely related substances whose use is now banned in most of the world due to concerns of toxicity.-Composition:...
and phenylmercury acetate
Phenylmercury acetate
Phenylmercuric acetate is an organomercury compound used as a fungicide. When applied to the leaves of plants, it is an Antitranspirant....
, both banned in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
since 1983. Importing was halted when the Albanian government noticed that the pesticides were outdated. Following complaints, the German authorities agreed to return the chemicals to Germany. In the meantime, however, local Albanians had emptied many containers in order to use them for household purposes. Much of the contents were emptied directly into the ground, eventually dispersing into Lake Shkodër. It was later reported that many cattle and sheep from the vicinity had died after the incident. Moreover, in subsequent years, fishermen from Lake Shkodër have reported a mass death of fish in the lake.
Despite expressing concern, public health institutions have not made any detailed analysis of the situation of pollution in the region. In recent years, Mayor Gjovalin Veshtaj reported an increase in cases of people suffering with cancer in the surrounding area for many years where these pesticides were located, relating this factor to their presence. Locals also associate the presence of pesticides with chronic headaches and birth defects.
Foods imported via Bajzë were at risk of being contaminated from the toxic waste. Wind also accounted for much of the contamination, which could have spread as far as 50 kilometres from the station, affecting crops, livestock and the local population.
There was approximately 200-250 tonnes of toxic waste located at the rail station facilities. However, a preliminary investigation led by the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
(UNDP) revealed that the toxic waste was in fact composed of 200 tonnes of leather rags and 80 tonnes of sodium hexafluorosilicate (Na2SiF6). The presence of sodium hexafluorosilicate was reported to be due to toxic waste dumping performed by the chemical-metallurgical plant located in Elbasan
Elbasan
Elbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
.
The UNDP is currently in charge of a 2.2 million USD programme aimed at clearing the toxic waste, with funding from the Albanian and Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
governments. Cleanup efforts were scheduled to occur between September 2007 and March 2010. As of September 2009, the rail station had been cleared of all remaining toxic waste.