Bulqizë: Edge of the Mine
In the mining zones of Bulqizë, Albania, life is shaped by the rhythm of extraction, labor, and endurance.
Every day, workers—both men and women—descend into the depths of the mountains to mine chromium, a resource that has defined the region’s identity and economy for generations. Their work unfolds far from the public eye, in remote and often dangerous conditions where safety is uncertain and every shift carries real risk.
Yet, despite the physical strain and the instability of the industry, they continue, driven by the need to provide for their families and keep alive a livelihood that is as demanding as it is essential.
This story looks beyond the mine itself to the human realities formed around it. It is about the sweat, the fatigue, and the solidarity shared by those who work side by side underground and across the surrounding mining sites.
It is about women taking their place in a field long assumed to belong only to men. And it is about a community shaped by the earth beneath Bulqizë, persisting through hardship with determination, dignity, and a quiet resilience that deserves to be seen.
People walk up the stairs heading to the mine, with the city visible in the background in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The image captures miners commuting to work in one of Europe’s largest chromium mining areas, central to the town’s livelihood.
An old building, part of the mining industrial complex, stands along the path to the mine in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The structure reflects the long history of chromium mining that has shaped the region’s economy and landscape.
Men return from work in the mine, walking in front of old buildings in the industrial complex in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The scene highlights the daily life of miners in a town shaped by decades of chromium extraction.
Men push a small mine cart filled with extracted chromium toward the processing area in front of the mine in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The activity shows the hands-on labor involved in transporting ore for further processing in the town’s chromium industry.
Old, rusted rails lie unused near the mine in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. They are remnants of the mining infrastructure that once supported the transportation of chromium ore in the area.
Workers push mine carts toward the mine to collect more extracted chromium in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The scene illustrates the ongoing manual labor required in one of Europe’s largest chromium mining regions.
Men and women wet and hammer chromium ore on a large platform in front of the mine in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. This activity is part of the ore beneficiation process: crushing and washing the chromite to separate valuable chromium minerals from waste.
A man stands wearing a helmet in front of the mine in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The image highlights the protective gear worn by miners working in one of Europe’s largest chromium extraction sites.
A woman works along the path to the mine where chromium is being cleaned and crushed, with a truck visible nearby in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The scene illustrates the hands-on processing of chromium ore before it is transported for further refinement.
A man repairs a mining cart in front of the mine in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The work is part of maintaining equipment essential for the extraction and transport of chromium ore in the mining operation.
A retaining wall channels draining water next to the mine in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The structure is part of the mine’s infrastructure, managing water flow to prevent flooding and support ongoing chromium extraction.
A car filled with workers’ helmets sits in the city of Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The image reflects the daily preparation of miners before heading to one of Europe’s largest chromium mines.
A landscape taken from the mine shows pools of water on the ground with the mountain visible in front in Bulqizë, Dibër County, Albania on November 11, 2025. The image captures the mining terrain and natural surroundings of one of Europe’s largest chromium extraction sites.