Trade Union Confederation Exposes Cover-Up of Three Mining Accidents in Albania

Following the recent exposure of an incident where a miner was injured at the Spaç copper mine a case that the Turkish company “Tete Albania” and local police allegedly attempted to keep hidden the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania has issued a renewed warning. The confederation asserts that multiple accidents in the country’s mines are going unreported, raising serious concerns about occupational safety and the welfare of mineworkers.

According to official inspector reports, three separate accidents occurred in the mining galleries of Bulqiza during the first two months of 2026 alone, none of which were made public at the time.

A Pattern of Undisclosed Incidents

The detailed reports shed light on the specific conditions and dates of the suppressed accidents:

• February 6, 2026 (Rafa Group): Ardian Manuka, a 38-year-old miner employed by Rafa Group, sustained a left leg fracture after being struck by a piece of mineral. Manuka, who was acting in a supervisory capacity, was inspecting the work front at the time. State inspectors attributed the incident to the employee’s own failure to properly assess the imminent risk.

• February 21, 2026 (Çupi Group): Dritan Kadi, a 45-year-old underground wagon operator, was injured while cleaning and loading materials in Gallery 37/1. A loose rock rolled and struck his left leg, resulting in a lower leg fracture. Inspectors concluded the accident was caused by the movement of materials and a lack of caution during the operation.

• February 21, 2026 (Albmine & Chrome): On the same day, 47-year-old Aqif Peti was injured in Gallery 15 while constructing structural armatures. A heavy, wet wooden cap slipped during assembly and struck his leg. The inspection report cited the slippery nature of the wet wood, its heavy weight, and employee negligence as the primary factors.

Across all three cases, state inspectors issued standard recommendations: mandatory retraining of employees on safety protocols, heightened vigilance in areas with loose or moving materials, reinforcement of structural supports, and the installation of protective guardrails.

Systemic Failures and Union Pushback Relying on these incident reports, the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania has levied severe accusations against the mining companies involved. The union argues that the core issue is systemic, pointing out that employees are frequently forced to perform tasks outside their professional expertise and physical capacities.

Furthermore, the confederation highlights a critical lack of qualified health and safety personnel on-site. According to their statement, mandatory safety councils within the mines are practically non-functional, and comprehensive legal risk assessments are largely ignored by operators.

These recent revelations underscore a growing crisis of accountability within Albania’s extractive industries, where the pursuit of resources increasingly clashes with the fundamental rights and safety of the workforce.