Azerbaijan to establish critical minerals hub in Alat

Azerbaijan is implementing a project to establish a specialized hub for critical minerals in Alat, AzerGold Chairman Zakir Ibrahimov said at the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2026).

According to Report, the AzerGold chief said the company's goal through 2030 is to build a portfolio of innovative projects focused on the extraction of gold, copper and polymetals.

"A prime example is the Filizchay polymetallic deposit in northern Azerbaijan, which contains substantial reserves: around 3 million tons of zinc, 500,000 tons of copper and more than 1 million tons of lead. Implementing such initiatives will not only stimulate the national mining sector but also have a significant impact on logistics chains across the region," Ibrahimov said.

He added that extensive geological exploration is currently underway in the Lesser Caucasus and across the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to expand the country's mineral resource base.

"This ensures geological stability in the process. However, simply identifying mineral deposits is not the final solution. Genuine supply security requires processing these resources. That is why Azerbaijan is working to establish a mineral hub in Alat, offering broad opportunities for investment. Processing facilities, logistics, investment and access to global markets will be concentrated at a single site. The area will be granted special-zone status," Ibrahimov said.