The UK-based company Anglo Asian Mining Plc. (AAM), which operates in gold, silver, and copper production in Azerbaijan, has announced the start of commissioning work to launch operations at the “Demirli” copper-molybdenum deposit located in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh economic region.

Axar.az informs that this was reported by Rеport, citing the company.

Anglo Asian Mining Plc stated that the process of putting the “Demirli” copper-molybdenum deposit into operation has begun. Operations are ongoing, and production is expected to increase by the end of the year.

The company forecasts that approximately 4,000 tons of copper concentrate will be produced at the Demirli deposit in 2025. Starting from 2026, production is expected to increase to around 15,000 tons of copper annually. The exact operational lifespan of the mine will be determined after further development of the geological and mineral resource models.

The company noted that the ore is extracted from a large open-pit mine and transported by truck to a processing plant. The plant is powered by Azerbaijan’s national energy grid, and water is supplied from local and regional sources.

"Currently, water and flotation (processing) waste is being temporarily disposed of in the existing tailings facility. A full geotechnical study has been completed to identify a new tailings site, and design work for the dam and pipeline is also finished," the statement said.

To operate the mine and plant, the company has recruited approximately 150 new workers and relocated about 50 experienced staff from its other operations to support the production ramp-up.

The Demirli deposit holds significant potential in terms of additional mineral resources. There are already opportunities identified for expanding the current pit, and nearby copper-molybdenum deposits have been targeted for future evaluation. A regional geological exploration program is expected to begin soon.

It is estimated that the Demirli deposit contains around 275,000 tons of copper and 3,200 tons of molybdenum.

Currently, Anglo Asian Mining is also extracting precious metals from the “Gedabek” and “Gosha” contract areas.

For context, a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) was signed on August 21, 1997, outlining the development of 6 deposits. Under the agreement, Azerbaijan holds a 51% share, while Anglo Asian Mining Plc holds 49%. At present, the company holds the rights to operate in 8 contract areas across Azerbaijan.