Azerbaijan plans to export $1 bln of copper concentrate to China in five years

BAKU. Jan 14 (Interfax) - Azerbaijan plans to export 85,000 tonnes of copper concentrate worth nearly $1 billion produced by the Demirli Ore Processing Complex in the Karabakh Economic Region to China by 2031.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited the plant, which began production in the second half of 2025 as part of a new phase of development of the Demirli deposit, on Tuesday, his press office said.

The complex includes a copper flotation plant, a wet tailings storage facility, an electrical substation and other infrastructure. The plant's annual processing capacity is 5.6 million tonnes of ore. Demirli is the first mining industry project launched in Azerbaijan's liberated territories.

"The initial exploitation period of the remaining reserves is planned for 2025-2030. During this period, the export of 85,000 tonnes of copper metal in concentrate form to China, valued at 1.6 billion manat, is envisaged. At the same time, an increase in copper reserves at the deposit is forecast in the coming years. According to preliminary geological exploration data, approximately 470,000 tonnes of additional copper reserves are estimated to be available," the press office said.

Demirli is a copper-gold deposit with ores amenable to producing copper concentrate with byproduct gold and silver. It is an asset of Anglo Asian Mining Plc. (AAM), which develops gold deposits in Azerbaijan. Its subsidiary, Azerbaijan International Mining Company (AIMC), operates the mine.

AAM said in July last year that it had started commissioning the Demirli mine.

Azerbaijan signed a production sharing agreement with Anglo Asian for six deposits back in 1997. Azerbaijan's stake in the contract, held by CJSC AzerGold, is 51% and AAM holds the remaining 49%. AAM currently holds the rights to eight contract areas in Azerbaijan, namely Gedabek, Demirli, Xarxar, Garadag, Gosha, Vejnaly, Ordubad and Kyzlbulag.