BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Domestic pellet
production capacity will be created as part of the Dashkasan iron
ore project, Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said at a meeting chaired by President Ilham Aliyev dedicated to
the State Program on the development of the mining and
metallurgical industry.


According to the minister, the project is planned to be
implemented in stages.


“Here, a local iron ore mine, beneficiation, and pellet
production facilities will be established. At the same time, a hot
briquetted iron plant is planned to be created. One of the main
objectives is to use the produced iron as raw material at
metallurgical enterprises within the country. At the same time, our
export opportunities will also expand. Thus, a local industrial
chain will be formed, from iron ore to subsequent processing
stages,” he said.


Jabbarov stressed that SOCAR should provide the necessary gas
infrastructure for the Dashkasan iron ore project and the related
cluster.


“AzerGold will develop the Dashkasan iron ore, gold, copper and
other projects. The Azerbaijan Investment Holding will be involved
in aluminum and other metallurgical projects through its portfolio
companies. The private sector's main role will be to invest in new
production and processing capacity,” the minister said.


Moreover, Jabbarov noted that the main objective in aluminum is
to expand the existing production chain and move toward
higher-value-added products.







“During the period covered by the program, the annual capacity
of the Electrolysis Plant is planned to increase from 50,000 tons
to 100,000 tons, while rolled product production is expected to
rise from 20,000 tons to 50,000 tons. In addition, the
establishment of a calcination and anode baking plant and the
production of carbon anode blocks are planned.


“Studies of the Zaylik alunite deposits will continue. The
objective is to determine the economic potential of an additional
raw material base. Here, we primarily rely on the development of
modern technologies. As a result, exports of Azeraluminium are
expected to increase from 252 million manat ($148 million) in 2025
to 510 million manat ($299 million) in 2030,” he said.


The minister added that an increase in the extraction and
production of copper, gold and silver is planned.


“Copper production will be significantly increased. Gold
production will be expanded through both existing and new projects.
As a result, total exports of copper, gold and silver are expected
to increase from 600 million manat ($352 million) in 2025 to 1.6
billion manat ($941 million) in 2030. I should note that this
figure is a forecast calculated based on average global prices in
2025,” Jabbarov added.