FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The extraordinary story of Baki Baliu, the Albanian diamond emperor and two gold mines in Sierra Leone, Africa.
How did Bakiu go from being a welder to a gold dealer? He revealed his secrets on Eljan Tanini's "Essence" show.
Eljan Tanini: Baki, thank you for being with us today. They call you "Baki of the Gold". Why?
Baki Baliu: I deal with various minerals in Africa and live in Sierra Leone. I have two gold mines there and a permanent staff that works with me. I initially emigrated to Germany. My father worked for 31 years in the Trepça Mine as a miner. In Germany I learned welding and worked as a welder. Then I got connected with one of the most powerful people in the world for diamonds and gold. I became his personal bodyguard. He ordered me not to go to Africa, but I didn't listen.
Eljan Tanini: -What happened next?
Baki Balliu: In 2014, I had made some money and created a company for recycling tires. We extracted oil and solar from them. In fact, the technology I had was not available to anyone else in the region. But in Mitrovica, the government hit me and closed my factory. I faced major bankruptcy. I could not accept that loss, so I decided to start a new life in Africa.
A local person helped me a lot. I also helped the local population there. At different times I had from 20 to 400 workers. The monthly payment is 300–350 euros, which is a lot for them. The state is strong, there is no theft. I got the mining license through the village headman, without the support of the locals nothing could be done.
Eljan Tanini: -How long do you work during the year?
Baki Baliu: -Only 7 months. The other 3–4 months are rainy and the land becomes dangerous for work. I am now number 1 for mining there.
In one place we find gold, in another diamonds, but they don't all happen at the same time because there are days we find a lot and there are days we find little. We have 150 hectares of land and we dig up to 6 meters deep.
Eljan Tanini: - Have there been cases where you have been robbed?
Baki Baliu: -No, no one steals there. Security is great and I have my own security group. I always have a personal guard 24 hours a day and when I transport gold, I use 2-3 cars for security.
Eljan Tanini: - How do you trade gold and diamonds?
Baki Baliu: -A 10-gram bar of 999-carat gold costs about $1,500 per gram. A gold bar is worth about $80,000. In my office, I have suitcases of bars that are stored safely in my home.
I have a 248 carat natural diamond, very clean and of great value that I am not selling. Natural diamonds have high values up to 48 thousand dollars. There are also lab-grown diamonds, but they are much less valuable.
Eljan Tanini: -Is it difficult to trade gold and diamonds in the Balkans? How do you find the place where you need to dig for gold?
Baki Baliu: -Yes, because it is confused. One quality is sold, but it is something else. There is no accurate equipment for analysis. They have also lied to me about the quality of gold in Albania and Kosovo. I have modified equipment that shows exactly where the gold is. The locals dig in an artisanal way, but they do not steal.
I also have a strong connection with them where I often take the children of the workers and the area, cook for them. It is a great pleasure for me. Money loses its value, gold never does. The value of gold on the stock exchange has increased from 61 thousand to 80 thousand dollars. Gold and diamonds are security and clean energy.
Mashalla te uroj suksese sa me shum me pranonit mua per puntor dhe se do jem mirnjos per ju.
Urime suksese lart e me lart dua te vij edhe un te punoj vetem per rrog kaq