The destruction of further surplus Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Albania - 2004.

The British Embassy in Tirana sought assistance from British Government in late 2003 to assist the Albanian Armed Forces (AAF)  reduce the weapons stockpile. The AAF had previously supplied 100000 weapons for destruction in 2001 of which 40000 were destroyed by a German military team and 60000 by EOD Solutions Ltd. The AAF has provided a further 12500 weapons for destruction and is prepared to double that figure to facilitate a mirror project from the United States Department of State, through the United States Embassy in Tirana , on completion of this project.

Destruction of the initial 12500 weapons began on the 12th January and was completed by the late February 2004. The same methodology from the project in 2001 was adopted, utilising the labour force that EOD Solutions Ltd has trained and established of ex military personnel who have worked for the company on all subsequent projects in Albania.

Refresher training was undertaken prior to the commencement of the project. This was to ensure the workforce maintained the high standards required when handling weapons and the oxygen and acetylene cutting equipment.  Health and safety is a major factor in company operations and this was emphasised in the refresher training. On completion of the training a certificate of competence signed by both parties was lodged with the Ministry of Defence.

EOD Solutions Ltd provided computer equipment and a serial number database that was passed to the Ministry of Defence representative each day to update their records. The scrap residue was weighed and accounted for to enable the Ministry of Defence to facilitate the disposal.

The types of weapons destroyed on this project ranged from pistols, mortars, air rifles and heavy machine guns. All were cut in accordance with the recommendations given to the company by the Defence Threat Reduction Agency of the United States of America  and recommendations of South East Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) for the verification process (www.seesac.org). During the cutting process it became clear that some of the weapons were of significant historical value.

Utilising the company's specialist knowledge the weapons were correctly identified and given their correct technical name and a commission was formed that would provide the nucleus of the arms for an Albanian Military Museum.

The services of EOD Solutions Ltd have been retained by the customer to destroy a large amount of Small Arms Ammunition (SAA) which has been collected and returned from the civilian population and is held within AAF storage facilities unpackaged and in some cases in a damaged and dangerous condition.