Dozens of residents from the oil-rich Patos-Marinzë area gathered again on Thursday morning in front of the offices of Bankers Petroleum, demanding accountability over unpaid land rents, the use of their agricultural properties, and what they describe as years of broken promises.
The residents say that the lands where their families once cultivated wheat and depended on agriculture have now been transformed into areas occupied by oil infrastructure, including roads, parking spaces, technical facilities, and drilling sites established since 2010.
According to the protesters, around 800 families from the affected villages are still waiting for their annual land rental payments for 2026, while their properties continue to be used for oil operations.
Villages Affected by the Oil Operations
The communities raising concerns include:
- Marinëz
- Belinë
- Sheqishte
- Zharrëz
- Kallm
- Frashër
- Kuman
Residents claim that the company is attempting to modify existing agreements in a way that would delay payments, turning annual compensation into a payment system made once every two years.
They also allege that the rental value of their land is being reduced significantly — from around 460 lek (or 400 lek) per square meter to approximately 200 lek per square meter — a change they consider unacceptable and unfair.
Residents: "Our Land Cannot Become an Abandoned Property"
The protesters argue that their properties are being treated as if they no longer have owners, despite the fact that they remain the rightful holders of the land.
They insist that contracts cannot be altered based on company interests or financial calculations, stressing that the rental payments represent a vital source of income for many families.
“For these 800 families of the Patos-Marinzë oil zone, the rent is not a luxury or a corporate bonus. It is the daily livelihood that risks disappearing amid pollution, uncertainty, and broken promises surrounding the oil industry.”
Warning of Escalation
The residents issued a strong warning that if their demands are not addressed by company management, the protests could escalate further.
They stated that they will seek the return of their lands to their previous condition and will no longer allow the exploitation of even a single square meter of property without full respect for contractual obligations.
The protesters are now calling on both Bankers Petroleum and responsible state institutions to intervene and provide solutions before tensions in one of Albania’s most important oil-producing areas reach a critical point.