Aghdara: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inspected the 'Damirli' Ore Processing Complex located in the village of Janyataq in the Aghdara district.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and President and CEO of Azerbaijan International Mining Company Limited Reza Vaziri briefed President Aliyev on the complex's facilities and operations. The complex encompasses a copper flotation plant, a wet tailings storage facility, an electrical substation, and various infrastructure components. Spanning 929 hectares, the complex has undergone reconstruction with Turkish and German technologies, supported by private investments amounting to 15.3 million manats.
'Damirli' represents the first mining industry project initiated in Azerbaijan's liberated territories. The complex's copper flotation plant processes ore from the 'Damirli' deposit, producing copper concentrate. The plant boasts an annual processing capacity of 5.6 million tons of ore. The 'Damirli' copper deposit, previously under Armenian occupation since 1993, was illegally exploited for about ten years beginning in 2013, resulting in the extraction of 218,000 tons of copper from an estimated 311,000 tons of reserves.
The remaining reserves' initial exploitation is planned for 2025-2030, with an expected export of 85,000 tons of copper metal in concentrate form to China, valued at 1.6 billion manats. Preliminary geological exploration estimates an additional 470,000 tons of copper reserves, pending confirmation through a four-year exploration program.
Currently, the complex has generated 980 permanent jobs, including roles for 260 former internally displaced persons. Employment is projected to rise to 1,250 positions, primarily occupied by local community members. 'Azerbaijan International Mining Company Limited' operates the mining activities under an agreement between 'AzerGold' CJSC and 'R.V. Investment Group Services.'
President Aliyev's 2024 law delegates 'AzerGold' CJSC to represent the state in the production-sharing agreement. The project integrates comprehensive environmental protection measures, including baseline assessments, environmental monitoring, and an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment document. Measures such as afforestation, water recycling, and emission controls are in place, with reclamation planned post-operations.
This project is crucial for Azerbaijan's non-oil sector development, boosting export capacity, and ensuring resource efficiency in liberated territories. Private investment plays a role in modernizing the mining sector, enhancing economic activity, and creating employment. Azerbaijan supports entrepreneurship in liberated territories through tax exemptions and incentives for a decade from January 1, 2023.
In a symbolic gesture, President Ilham Aliyev pressed a button to initiate ore blasting.