Public Project
Area Albania
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Jordi Jon Pardo
Journalist, Documentary Photographer
Area Albania
Location: Barcelona
Nationality: Spanish
Covering:
Europe,
School:
Universitat Ramon Llull
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
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© 2025 Jordi Jon Pardo
The abandoned village station, once a symbol of progress, has been transformed into a leisure center for the residents of Ballsh in southern Albania. This change reflects the broader narrative of post-socialist Albania, where many buildings have been repurposed due to economic transitions. The collapse of state industries and the subsequent shift towards a market economy have left numerous structures abandoned. As young people migrate abroad in search of better opportunities, local communities adapt by converting these relics of the past into functional spaces, embodying resilience amidst ongoing socio-economic challenges.
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© 2025 Jordi Jon Pardo
Dismantled buildings, abandoned gas stations, and plots for sale are common sights in the Albanian landscape. In the photograph, a dismantled structure stands next to a former service station, now repurposed as a hay warehouse for local farmers in Lushnjë, reflecting the region's adaptive reuse amidst economic shifts.
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© 2025 Jordi Jon Pardo
Illiri, a farmer living and working near the refinery in Ballsh, burns olive tree prunings. The proximity to the industrial site underscores the stark contrast between traditional agriculture and the looming presence of heavy industry.
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© 2025 Jordi Jon Pardo
Abandoned machinery and overgrown grass now mark the site of a former gas station, which has been transformed into a football pitch for the younger generation. This repurposing highlights the resilience and ingenuity of the local community in southern Albania, where economic shifts and the decline of state-run enterprises have left many such relics.
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© 2025 Jordi Jon Pardo
A sample from the Gjanica, the most polluted river in Albania. Industrial negligence and oil spills from the Patos-Marinëz and Ballsh refineries affect agricultural, herding, and fishing activities throughout most of Southern Albania.
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© 2025 Jordi Jon Pardo
Three friends take a break near Ballsh. Unemployment is a significant issue in this area, particularly among the youth. Many, including these young men, struggle to find stable employment due to the economic impact of the declining oil industry and the lack of investment in other sectors. The high unemployment rate forces many to consider emigration in search of better opportunities, reflecting the broader socio-economic challenges faced by the region .
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© 2025 Jordi Jon Pardo
Workers from Bankers Petroleum at the Marinëz oil field. To extract crude oil, the refineries employ various techniques, including the recent introduction of fracking in southern Albania. This method has led to frequent earthquakes over the past decade, destroying 71 homes and damaging 540 others. While Bankers Petroleum has made donations to help rebuild some of the affected homes, they have not taken responsibility for the damage.
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© 2025 Jordi Jon Pardo
The lake of Rezevuari i Hekalit in Ballsh is encircled by the oil wells of the Mallakastër industrial complex. This scene illustrates the ongoing tension between natural landscapes and industrial activity in Albania. The oil wells signify the region's dependence on the petroleum industry, which brings economic benefits but also poses environmental challenges for the local community.
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© 2025 Jordi Jon Pardo
A shepherdess tending her poultry observes the abandoned station in Ballsh. The scenario reflects the everyday reality of rural life coexisting with southern Albania's remnants of industrial structures."
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© 2025 Jordi Jon Pardo
Linaq, a 12-year-old neighbor of Ballsh, is affected by architectural pollution. She lives with her family few meters away from an abandoned house damaged by fires 25 years ago. Ruins such as this one are spread out all over Albania.
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