The damage caused by nature is being offset with more chromium for export Bulqizë, Northern Mine, 27 August. Three days ago, the workforce gathered here for a brief meeting. “The situation is extraordinary. The Presidium of the Council of Ministers held a special meeting. Everyone now knows the decision. About 4 million dollars’ worth of electricity and mazut will have to be purchased because of this unforeseen drought. We are also losing thousands of tons of ferrochrome and other products. To feel this as little as possible, united in this way, we can do a great deal to cope with the situation. The figures inform us about the situation, but as they stand, they also take on the meaning of a call to action. Here, on the chromium production front, we have the means to counter these natural consequences with the chromium underground. Let us extract more than we have ever extracted before.” This, more or less, was what Jorgo Kola, Përparim Dumani, Mentor Shkreta and their fellow engineers and miners said in their discussions at the Northern Mine, whose workforce these days is responding to the call of the situation with unprecedented patriotism. We went down to the levels of Shaft 2, into the galleries of the “16 Tetori” mine. One day, Përparim Dumani’s comrades on the 5th level found themselves alone and raised their production overfulfilment to 1,100 tons. An even greater overfulfilment, around 1,400 tons, was achieved in the gallery headed by Ali Kola. Several hundred tons of overfulfilment have also been achieved at the production faces headed by Qemal Fiku, Rustem Ismaili and Bujar Dumani. The output of these sections will be sent to the beneficiation plants to be upgraded in quality and made suitable for export. But these days the workforce is looking especially to the depths. That is where the high-grade chromium is, which goes straight to market. The 10th level, under the responsibility of Sabri Pata, has just emerged from deficit and moved into overfulfilment figures. Together with two other levels, the 7th and the 11th, production “for the drought” exceeds 1,000 tons. Thanks precisely to this overfulfilment, the mine itself is increasing its export production overfulfilment with each passing day. In concentrate alone, about 4,900 tons above the eight-month plan were delivered, while chromium exports exceeded the plan by 500 tons. Thus, exports worth 4 million lekë above plan were delivered. The miners’ response is a daily one. The production quotas reported by the sections are rising. Nor is there any shortage of reserve production faces in any section. At the end of the month, at its current pace, the level headed by Bujar Dumani will announce completion of its annual plan four months ahead of schedule. The others are drawing close to their targets. Other chromium mines in the district have the same aims, inspired by this example, by the discipline and organization, and by the production pace achieved by this workforce led by specialists Agim Vargu and Vehbi Musta. FRANO CAKA Correspondent for “Zëri i popullit”

- POGRADEC - What is the response of consumers in the Pogradec district to the extraordinary energy situation… What is the response of consumers in the Pogradec district to the extraordinary energy situa- tion? Even under these conditions, the district’s electricity consumers are conserving it. On 25 August, electricity consumption was 122 thousand kilowatt-hours. On 26 August, the day of the…

- DURRËS - All economic enterprises and agricultural economies are now operating with an electricity quota lower than before. Nevertheless, across the district, so far they have…

Scenes from the construction and installation work on the new oilseed-processing plant in Fier, which will be completed within this year. (Photos: N. Xhufka)

Economic relations with foreign countries In the food industry, new forms of cooperation with foreign firms are being implemented to improve food-production technology and increase the quality and value of these products for the domestic market and for export. In cooperation with the Agroeksport enterprise, we succeeded in concluding an agreement with the French firm “Ducros”. The agreement concerns the establishment in Albania of a production line that will clean and pre-process mainly cultivated aromatic, edible and medicinal plants. Today these plants are sold unprocessed, and suitable markets are difficult to secure. Plants processed on this line will meet the requirements of international markets and increase their value by 20–30 percent. The agreement to set up the line was signed in 1989 and was also confirmed by the banks of both countries. The firm drew up the technological project, which it completed in February 1990, and will order the machinery and equipment. The construction project was drawn up by the Institute of Studies and Design for the Light and Food Industries in Tirana in May 1990. The line is planned to be built near the plant-collection and processing enterprise in Durrës, since all the country’s aromatic, oil-bearing and medicinal plants are collected there. Construction work has begun and was intensified during August, but the Durrës construction enterprise must make up for lost time so that the facility can be built and put into operation within 1990. This is essential, since the firm has begun manufacturing and delivering the line’s machinery. The value of the imported machinery and equipment is 1.1 million dollars, and construction and installation will cost 1.6 million lekë. The investments will be covered within two years from the time the line is put into operation, solely from the proceeds of sales of the plants processed on this line and purchased by the partner firm. Cooperation with this firm will continue on setting up lines for microbiological cleaning, blending and packaging the product, right through to packaging it in household-use sizes. Other plants in the spice group that do not grow here will also be processed on the lines; the firm will bring them from other countries. Packaging will use porous material, in accordance with the requirements of foreign markets. Talks have also begun on cooperation in other sectors of the food industry, such as tobacco and cigarettes, essences, canned goods, etc. Talks have begun with Bulgarian firms on renewing the technology of the tobacco-and-cigarette and essence industries. In this way, cross-border trade between our enterprises and various firms is developing. MASAR KELLIÇI Department head at the Ministry of the Food Industry

For 10 years, the garment-manufacturing enterprise in Tirana has cooperated with foreign firms, and over the past two years with four firms from the Federal Republic of Germany. Today, 60 percent of its annual production plan is covered by imported raw materials ordered from abroad, and the remainder by domestic materials. This has led to an increase in production and product quality from one year to the next. Other contributing factors have been stronger order and discipline, greater accountability, and work productivity 3 percent higher, among others. As a result, all financial indicators have been achieved and exceeded. Net income, for example, exceeded the plan by about 30 thousand lekë, while costs were reduced by 200 thousand lekë beyond the planned level. The technology office has studied— The garment production enterprise «Lirane» cooperates with foreign firms and, in the last two years, with four firms from the FR is covered by raw materials supplied by the customer, an increase in production and quality from one year to the next. Recently, a new tanning line was put into operation at Factory No. 2, increasing the enterprise’s annual output by 8 percent. As we learned from the management of this enterprise, the benefits of cooperation with foreign firms are good. Thus, by exceeding last year’s plan, 62,000 dollars were secured, which will be used this year to renew some of the equipment and machinery and, gradually, in the future, to renew the entire technology used in garment production. In the first quarter of this year, workers received a bonus of 53,000 lekë from the enterprise’s special fund, and a special fund for culture and recreation has also been established. The enterprise’s workforce fulfilled the eight-month plan 10 days ahead of schedule, producing more than 10 million lekë worth of goods toward the September target. Export obligations were fulfilled 100 percent. The achievements are also evident in the quality of production. The tanning departments have cooperated four firms from the FR is covered by raw materials supplied by the customer, and the remainder by domestic materials. The technological bureau has studied and introduced new models into production that are popular with consumers, aiming to make greater use of mathematical methods in cutting and in the utilization of raw materials. During this year, 36 new models have entered the production line, and work in this direction is continuing. Thirty girls have been employed at this enterprise during the last two months. Following the example of the workers on the new line managed by Lejla Reçi, who are producing in one hour what would normally take 10 days of September, work is proceeding similarly in the factory, the workshop and other departments. Meanwhile, comprehensive preparations are being made to implement the new economic mechanism on January 1, 1991. To this end, working groups have conducted studies and experiments to introduce the specific elements of this mechanism starting now. ATSH correspondent

- POGRADEC - We contacted the staff of the Pogradec electric substation by telephone to find out how consumers in the Pogradec district were responding to this year’s energy emergency measures for daily consumption and to the decision of the Council of Ministers. Guri Kërçi, dispatcher, tells us: “We have accurate information on daily consumption throughout the district and from all consumers, because now, without exception and as never before, information is regularly provided—not as in the past, when this seemingly minor duty was neglected. Specifically, up to August 25, the planned daily quota for electricity consumption across the district was 134 thousand kilowatt-hours. By working with a sense of responsibility, by that date it had been reduced to 124 thousand kilowatt-hours across the district. After August 25, the electricity consumption quota was lowered to 124 thousand kilowatt-hours. That is, it was reduced by 10 thousand kilowatt-hours. Even under these conditions, consumers in the district are keeping to it. On August 25, electricity consumption was 122 thousand kilowatt-hours. On August 26, Sunday, work was carried out in nearly all enterprises. Electricity consumption was 107,720 kilowatt-hours. A very good example of electricity use in this district is found at the knitwear factory. Its quota for today has been set at 1,200 kilowatt-hours. In fact, less is being consumed. Around 300 kilowatt-hours are saved every day. Attention is focused on taking technical and organizational measures to ensure that major consumers use energy as efficiently as possible. Such measures have been taken, for example, at the enameling furnaces of the miscellaneous products enterprise, which operate at specified times. «Zëri i popullit» correspondent

- DURRËS - All economic enterprises and agricultural economies are now working with a lower level of electricity consumption than before. Nevertheless, more than 400 thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity have been saved so far across the district. The shipyard is a good example. All the workers are working under the motto, “Let us save electricity while exceeding the plan targets.” At the shipyard, the main consumers, such as the mechanical workshop, have switched to a six-hour work system so that plan targets are not jeopardized and losses of energy and idle operation of metal-cutting machines are avoided. In the foundry, although previously the aim was to reduce the number of melts, carrying out only the most necessary ones, work with the induction furnaces has now been organized so that material for several days is accumulated and successive melts are made, in order to prevent the furnace temperature from falling and, consequently, avoid using electricity to raise it for every melt. Other consumers, such as the lathe, the drilling machine, etc., are also operating on a new schedule... (Continued on page 2)

Moments from construction and installation work at the new oilseed-processing factory in Fier, which will be completed within this year. (Photos: N. Xhufka) Milk production exceeds the plan Milk production for the eight-month period in the agricultural economies of Gjirokastër district has met the target, and by the end of August it is forecast that more than 1,000 quintals will be delivered above the plan. Meanwhile, the state delivery target has also been exceeded. Ten agricultural economies, including those of Nivani, Fushbardha, Kolonja, Golimi and Catista, met their milk production plan as early as August 20. This indicator has also been exceeded at NB Libohova, where good work is being done, particularly to increase milk production from the herds of cows. 2,250 liters have been obtained per cow, out of an annual yield of 3,200 liters. (According to ATSH) Moments from construction and installation work at the new oilseed-processing factory in Fier, which will be completed within this year. (Photos: N. Xhufka)

- PESHKOPI - The people of Dibër district celebrated on Sunday the 46th anniversary of liberation from foreign occupiers and traitors to the country, and the 48th anniversary of the formation of the 18th Assault Brigade. Tributes were paid and wreaths laid at the district’s martyrs’ cemetery on behalf of the Central Committee of the Party, the Party Committee, the Executive Committee of the People’s Council and the district mass organizations, the unit that bears this brigade’s flag, and others. A rally was held in the center of the city of Peshkopi, attended by workers from workplaces and production centers, cooperative members, veterans, former partisans, council deputies, members and other relatives of the families of the martyrs, young activists, boys and girls, military pioneers, young men and women, and Enver pioneers. Also present were members of the Central Committee of the PPSH, Polikë of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Agriculture, Comrade Pali Miska; Chairman of the district People’s Council Executive Committee, Ali Kaza; and guests from the districts of Kukës, Mat and Mirditë. The rally was opened by Osman Murati, First Secretary of the district Party Committee. On behalf of the beloved leader of our Party and people, Comrade Ramiz Alia, the Central Committee of the Party, the Council of Ministers and the General Council of the FDSH, Comrade Pali Miska conveyed greetings to those present. Among other things, he highlighted the outstanding patriotic traditions of the people of Dibër, their contribution to the wars for freedom and independence, particularly during the National Liberation Anti-Fascist War, led by the Albanian Communist Party, with Comrade Enver Hoxha at its head. The formation of the 18th Assault Brigade in the village of Sllatinë was a great victory for our people’s struggle. With its partisans, it honorably carried out the tasks assigned to it by the Party. He went on to speak about the enthusiasm aroused among all our people by the decisions of the Central Committee’s recent plenums and Comrade Ramiz Alia’s speeches, and about the tasks arising from the need to respond better to the demands of the times and the day. (Continued on page 3)

On the occasion of Geologists’ Day There are many reasons to love and honor geologists. The first impression one has of them is associated with restlessness, with constant movement. Their bags and hammers are synonymous with them, along with mountains and valleys and the opportunity to get to know the country inch by inch. Thus, the image is somewhat romantic, youthful. Later, this image broadens and deepens. By hearing and learning the recent history of Albania, one can see that geologists have been exceptional and important. That simple hammer and the bag filled with stones, carried on the shoulder; those samples transported in wooden crates have paved the way for and heralded the rapid development of the country’s economy and life. Oil, copper, iron, chromium. What would Albania be like without these extraordinary treasures? An entire industrial system is based on them. Geologists laid the markers for this industrialization, technically advanced, along the routes of so many mines, quarries and wells, all the way to the combines in the plains. But that is not all. The most important thing, perhaps the one that... Zenel Neza climbed all the way up there. This episode came to mind in recent days, on the eve of Geologists’ Day, when I met Zenel Neza himself, director of the Tropojë Geological Enterprise, one of the enterprises in the network with the best results nationwide for prospecting. In fact, this enterprise has been “at work” on this wealth since August 7, fulfilling its plans across all indicators. The director gives me some figures on these major achievements. It has provided the country with two new rich-chromium deposits, one in Lajthizë and the other in Plani. Geological reserves of rich chromium reached 115 percent of the target. Costs were reduced by 1 million and 920 thousand lekë. The enterprise generated a net income of 993 thousand lekë. As we try to uncover “the secret behind this enterprise’s success,” an article published in the local newspaper «Shkëlzeni», entitled “Tradition has not been broken at the geological enterprise... Where does this manager see the success of the work?”, comes to our aid. “At the geological enterprise...” (Writes Zeneli: It is not just one or two people who work well and uphold the enterprise’s “record” of achievements. The days are gone when, in an enterprise or institution, one person alone, usually the head, could perform miracles. We read and hear in the press, on the radio and on television about leading enterprises, just as people talk about our enterprise. The director or management is praised, as is the Party secretary at meetings and assemblies. Without adopting an excessively modest view of the manager’s role, I think that “the Achilles’ heel is not here. Everyone has their own merits and role... For a tradition to take root, the work of two or three people is not enough.”) But, as they say in the district and at the enterprise, Zenel Neza is one of the “pillars” of the geological enterprise. He is very perceptive and combative, but geologists are not all like that. They are people of hard work and sacrifice. Zenel Neza has spent 15 years at this enterprise, which, as the people say, extends like one of its legs from Valbona to Qafë e Prushit. He knows what it means to carry a drill on one’s shoulder from Valbona to the pass and back, and, with professional skill and a passion for exploration, to draw the generations of geologists toward the veins of chromium ore deep within. But it may be unfinished... (Continued on page 3)

48th year of publication Tuesday, 28 August 1990 No. 205 (13 149) Price: 30 qindarka