Ballsh

Municipal unit in Fier, Albania

Flag

Emblem

40°36′3″N 19°44′11″E / 40.60083°N 19.73639°E / 40.60083; 19.73639Country

AlbaniaCountyFierMunicipalityMallakastërElevation

231 m (758 ft)Population

(2011)

• Municipal unit

7,657Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal Code

9308

Area Code0313Websitewww.ballshi.com

Ballsh (Albanian definite form: Ballshi) is a town and a former municipality in Fier County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision and the seat of the municipality Mallakastër.^[1] It was the seat of the former District of Mallakastër. The population at the 2011 census was 7,657.^[2]

Name

It was centre of Malkasra (Turkish of "Mallakastër") kaza in Sanjak of Berat in Yanya Vilayet during Ottoman rule between 1670 and 1912.^[3] Its name evolved from the name of the ancient town Byllis, located in proximity of Ballsh. Church sources report the variants Byllis, Bellis, Ballis and Vallis.^[4]

History

Ballsh is close to the ancient city of Byllis, a city during the Illyria era. The Slavic invasions of the 6th and 7th centuries caused the decline of Byllis while Ballsh was built with materials plundered from Byllis.^{[citation needed]}.

Economy

The city's surrounding fields are rich in crude petroleum and are dotted by a series of oil wells established during the communist dictatorship. Only a fraction of these wells are operating today, but the city includes a working refinery, and outputs of naphthas are significant.

The refinery was owned by Taçi Oil through ARMO (Anika Mercuria Refinery Associated Oil, owned by Anika Enterprises). In 2013 ARMO was sold to Heaney Assets Corporation, an Azerbaijan corporation.^[5]^[6]

Sports

The city's team KS Bylis Ballsh, plays at the Adush Muça Stadium.

References

^ "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF) (in Albanian). p. 6370. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
^ 2011 census results Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
^ "20.Yüzyılda Osmanlı Vilayetleri" (PDF). Tarih ve Medeniyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
^ Buda, Aleks (1984). Problems of the formation of the Albanian people, their language and culture: conference (selection). "8 Nëntori" Publishing House. p. 89.
^ "Azerët, nga sot pronarë të ARMO-s, firmoset marrëveshja". Shekulli. 7 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-03-13.
^ "ARMO changes owners". Top Channel. 2013-08-08. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2014-04-21.

Cities and towns in Albania

Cities and towns in Albania share the status of a geographic unit which makes up a municipality.

(74)

v t e Subdivisions of Fier County
County Seat: Fier
Municipality of Divjakë	Divjakë Grabjan Gradishtë Remas Tërbuf
Municipality of Fier	Cakran Dërmenas Fier Frakull Levan Libofshë Mbrostar Ura Portëz Qendër Topojë
Municipality of Lushnjë	Allkaj Ballagat Bubullimë Dushk Fier-Shegan Golem Hysgjokaj Karbunarë Kolonjë Krutje Lushnjë
Municipality of Mallakastër	Aranitas Ballsh Fratar Greshicë Hekal Kutë Ngraçan Qendër Dukas Selitë
Municipality of Patos	Patos Ruzhdie Zharrëz
Municipality of Roskovec	Kuman Kurjan Roskovec Strum

v t e Subdivisions of Mallakastër Municipality
Municipal Seat: Ballsh
Administrative Unit of Aranitas	Aranitas Cfir Çyçen Kalenjë Metoh Panahor
Administrative Unit of Ballsh	Ballsh
Administrative Unit of Fratar	Behaj Damës Gadurovë Kremenar Malas Ninësh
Administrative Unit of Greshicë	Greshicë Greshicë e Re
Administrative Unit of Hekal	Hekal Klos Mollaj Rromës
Administrative Unit of Kutë	Anëbreg Çorrush Drizar Kutë Poçëm
Administrative Unit of Ngraçan	Ngraçan Riban
Administrative Unit of Qendër Dukas	Belishovë Belistan Drenovë Drenovë Fushë Dukas Kash Lapulec Lavdan Lofkënd Ngraçie Usojë Visokë
Administrative Unit of Selitë	Çërrilë Gjerbës Kapaj Selitë