AzerGold CJSC has moved to the next stage of development at
Soyudlu (Zod), considered the largest gold deposit in the Caucasus.
As part of preparations for mine development, the first drilling
and blasting operation has been successfully carried out.


The first controlled rock blast was conducted in accordance with
the approved technical design and safety requirements. Prior to the
operation, the safety perimeter was secured, warning signals were
issued, and all necessary control measures were put in place in the
area. Following the blast, the site was inspected by specialists to
confirm its safety.


It should be noted that since August 2025, extensive geological
studies, topographic surveying and drilling operations with a total
depth of 18,000 metres have been carried out at the deposit. Based
on the results of the geological exploration and appraisal works,
the recoverable remaining reserves of the Soyudlu gold deposit have
been estimated at 1.03 million ounces in accordance with the JORC
(Joint Ore Reserves Committee) standard, an internationally
recognised framework for the economic evaluation of mineral
deposits.


The first blasting operation marks an important step towards
bringing the deposit’s resources into economic circulation and
transitioning the mine into the active production phase.


AzerGold CJSC has also begun implementing advanced geotechnical
monitoring technology at the Soyudlu mine. Given the mine’s
geotechnical instability and the activity of various exogenous
geological processes, the GroundProbe SSR-OMNI radar slope
stability monitoring system has been commissioned to enable
continuous monitoring of these processes.


Equipped with an early-warning function, the system enables
potential risks to be identified in advance and preventive measures
to be taken to mitigate the risk of landslides. Its implementation
will contribute to ensuring the safety of personnel and heavy
equipment during production operations, as well as preventing
disruptions and additional costs that may arise from potential
slope failures.







Alongside mine development, work is also continuing the
development of technological solutions for ore processing. Based on
the mineralogical and metallurgical characteristics of Soyudlu ore,
as well as the results of the tests conducted, the need to apply
flotation technology at the initial processing stage has been
established. To this end, technical and economic assessments are
being carried out to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a
modern flotation processing facility.


The commissioning of the mine will contribute to increasing
production capacity in Azerbaijan’s mining sector and boosting
revenues to the state budget, while also creating new employment
opportunities in the Kalbajar district and supporting local
economic activity and social development.


At the current stage, a total of 236 people, including
contractor personnel, are employed under the Soyudlu project. Of
these, 55 are residents registered in the Kalbajar district. Given
the limited availability of suitable candidates in the local labour
market for positions requiring specialised qualifications,
technical knowledge and work experience in the mining industry,
specialists with the relevant qualifications and experience have
also been recruited from other regions.



During 2026–2029, covering the project’s initial production and
construction phase, approximately 700 direct and indirect jobs are
expected to be created. Once the Soyudlu mine reaches full-scale
production, direct and indirect employment is expected to exceed
1,300 jobs.