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Americans and Greeks, 1 billion euro investment in Bilisht mines. Was this the reason for the American ambassador's visit to Rama?

2026-03-19 22:07:32Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Americans and Greeks, 1 billion euro investment in Bilisht mines. Was this the

The Greek group AKTOR has officially entered the Albanian mining sector through a strategic agreement with the BNI Foundation, aiming to exploit nickel and cobalt—two of the most sought-after minerals in the world, reports the Greek newspaper Kathimerini .

The project envisages the creation of a joint venture, where AKTOR will own 51%, while BNI 49%. The total investment could reach up to 1 billion euros and is expected to be supported mainly by American funds, turning Albania into an important link in the Western supply chain of raw materials for batteries.

The main focus is the Bilisht area, where over 500,000 tons of nickel and 25,000 tons of cobalt are estimated—one of the largest reserves in Europe. The project also includes the construction of processing plants.

This development comes at a time when the US and Europe are trying to reduce their dependence on China for these strategic materials.

According to Kathimerini, the agreement may also be linked to the recent visit to Tirana of the US Ambassador to Athens, Kimberly Guilfoyl, who met with Prime Minister Edi Rama. The meeting was also attended by AKTOR leader Alexandros Exarchos.

Why Bilishti matters

The investment focus is located in the Bilisht region, in southeastern Albania, which is historically one of the richest mining centers in the Balkans.

The specific location is located in a vast metallogenic zone, famous for its exceptional laterite deposits. Decades of geological studies demonstrate the existence of millions of tons of available ore, with average nickel content historically fluctuating around 1% to 1.2%, while also containing valuable cobalt at rates of 0.04% to 0.06%.

One of Bilisht's strongest advantages is its favorable geomorphology, as the deposits are located relatively close to the surface. This fact allows for open pit mining, a method that significantly reduces operating costs and the degree of difficulty compared to underground galleries.

The exploitation of this mineral wealth gives the project great geopolitical value. Due to the global transition to green energy and the rapid development of electric mobility, nickel and cobalt are now "critical metals" for battery production.

Thus, the Bilisht deposits, located within the European continent, provide a secure and direct supply chain to Western markets, away from the geopolitical dependencies of third countries.

This Western perspective is also reflected in the strong American support provided by the agreement. The joint venture will be supported at all stages of its development by US-based companies, while the bulk of external financing is expected to come from US capital. The exact amount of the total investment will be determined gradually, depending on the progress of the work and after all required regulatory approvals have been secured.


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