Anglo Asian Mining (AIM:AAZ) has appointed Worley Europe as contractor for feasibility studies at its Xarxar and Garadag copper deposits in Azerbaijan, a step the company frames as critical to its ambition of becoming a mid-tier copper producer by 2030.
The gold, copper and silver producer said the studies will assess copper heap leach processing and solvent extraction-electrowinning, a method that produces marketable copper metal directly at the mine rather than concentrate requiring export for smelting.
The company noted this would mark the first time copper metal has been produced either by Anglo Asian or anywhere in Azerbaijan.
Feasibility results are expected at Xarxar by mid-2027 and at Garadag in the first half of 2028, with the contract between the parties still being finalised.
Alongside the appointment, Anglo Asian outlined a 90,000-metre core drilling programme spanning 2026 and 2027, split between approximately 55,000 metres of exploration drilling and roughly 35,000 metres to support the feasibility work.
Two drill rigs are already operating at Xarxar, with Garadag drilling set to begin in the third quarter of 2026.
"These studies, combined with the associated drilling programme, will enable us to construct the mines," said Stephen Westhead, Vice President of Anglo Asian Mining.
The company's stated growth plan targets annual copper production of 50,000 to 55,000 tonnes by 2030, against output of 7,915 tonnes in 2025.
