Albanian authorities have awarded a mining license to a local company to begin lithium extraction in a southern municipality, moving the project into the development phase. The permit follows exploration work that identified low-grade lithium mineralization at 235.45 ppm over a four-year period, according to the reported results.
Documents from the National Agency of Natural Resources (AKN) show that ALBANIA GOLD shpk received a "use" license in October 2025 covering a 0.9-square-kilometer area between the villages of Zhulat and Picar in the Gjirokastër municipality. The license was issued as of the reported date of 2026-08-18.
The permit marks a step forward for lithium development in Albania, adding the country to the list of European jurisdictions with active exploration permits, though the stated grade is notably low compared to typical hard-rock lithium deposits.