Ballsh
Municipal unit in Fier, Albania From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
Ballsh | |
|---|---|
 Ballsh in the Distance | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
.svg)  Ballsh | |
| Coordinates: 40°36′3″N 19°44′11″E | |
| Country |  Albania |
| County | Fier |
| Municipality | Mallakastër |
| Elevation | 231 m (758 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Municipal unit | 7,657 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal Code | 9308 |
| Area Code | 0313 |
| Website | www |
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]
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.[5]
The city's surrounding fields are rich in crude petroleum and are dotted by a series of oil wells established during the socialist era. 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.[6][7]
The city's team KS Bylis Ballsh, plays at the Adush Muça Stadium.
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