Anglo Asian Mining has commenced copper production at its Demirli mine, marking a significant step in its transition to a mid-tier copper producer. This new mine in Azerbaijan is expected to contribute substantially to the company's copper output, alongside its existing operations and future projects.
Anglo Asian Mining, a prominent Azerbaijan-focused mining company, today announced a pivotal moment in its strategic evolution, commencing copper production at its new Demirli mine. This significant development, announced on Monday, propels the company closer to its goal of achieving mid-tier copper producer status and diversifies its output beyond its traditional gold focus.
The Demirli mine, located within Azerbaijan's resource-rich Karabakh economic region, represents Anglo Asian’s second new producing asset to come online this year, following the successful commissioning of the Gilar underground mine in May. This rapid expansion underscores the company's aggressive strategy to capitalize on growing demand for copper and solidify its position as a key player in the regional mining landscape.
According to company projections, the Demirli mine is set to contribute an initial 4,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate through 2025. Looking ahead, production is anticipated to ramp up considerably, reaching an impressive 15,000 tonnes annually from 2026 onwards. While the full life of the mine is yet to be definitively determined, Anglo Asian highlighted the promising potential for additional mineral resources at Demirli. The company has identified known extensions to the current pit area and has also pinpointed nearby copper targets for future evaluation, suggesting a potentially long and fruitful operational lifespan for the new asset.
Reza Vaziri, CEO of Anglo Asian Mining, expressed his enthusiasm for this milestone, stating that the commencement of production at Demirli represents a “significant step” in the company’s transition into a multi-asset, mid-tier mining company based in Azerbaijan. This strategic shift is a testament to Anglo Asian's forward-looking approach and its commitment to maximizing the value of its extensive resource portfolio within the country.
The move towards a copper-centric future gained further momentum with the May announcement of production commencement at Gilar, an underground mine situated at the Gedabek site. This mine holds an impressive 54,000 tonnes of copper in resources, signaling a clear intent to elevate copper to a primary commodity for the company. With Demirli now online, Anglo Asian is expected to issue a revised and likely elevated production guidance for 2025, reflecting its expanded operational capacity.
The company's copper ambitions extend even further into the future, with plans to bring three more copper mines – Zafar, Xarxar, and Garadag – into production in the coming years.
