Environmental research

Albania is a typical Mediterranean country with large surface area being cultivated under olive plantations. Due to an increased demand for olive oil in the global markets and the high quality of olive oil produced in the region, Albania has plans for a significant expansion of the area cultivated for olive trees. Olive fruit processing produces large amount of by-products, including liquid and solid wastes arising from olive oil extraction and the production of table olives. The disposal without any treatment of the olive waste is known to cause serious environmental problems. Olive mill wastes are valuable by-products and could be used for energy generation and as fertilizer or soil conditioner. This project will implement the heating of a kindergarten in the outskirts of Tirana using the dry olive pomace produced by some of the olive oil producing factories. The project will be monitored for its performance and economic feasibility by the Tirana municipality. This project is co financed by SOROS foundation.

Albania