The Soyudlu (Zod) gold deposit, located in the Kalbajar district, is one of the largest gold deposits in the Caucasus. The deposit was discovered in 1951 and has undergone geological exploration and evaluation at various stages. During the occupation period of the Azerbaijani territories, illegal mining activities were carried out in some areas of the deposit located within the territory of Armenia.

Since August 2025, AzerGold CJSC has been conducting extensive geological exploration, topographical surveys, and drilling activities at the deposit, with a total drilling length of 18,000 metres. Based on the exploration results, the mineable gold reserves have been estimated at 1.03 million ounces, in accordance with the internationally recognised JORC standards.

The first drilling and blasting operations commenced at the Soyudlu deposit in September 2026, and advanced geotechnical monitoring technologies were initiated at the site. Considering the geotechnical instability of the mine and the active occurrence of various exogenous geological processes, the GroundProbe SSR-OMNI slope stability radar system was commissioned to provide continuous monitoring.

This radar system enables early detection of potential geotechnical hazards, with its early warning functionality, and facilitates the implementation of preventive measures to mitigate the risk of slope failures. The system enhances the safety of personnel and heavy equipment involved in mining operations, while also decreasing potential production disruptions and additional costs that could arise from slope failures.

Alongside the development of the deposit, work is progressing to identify suitable methods for ore processing. Based on the mineralogical and metallurgical characteristics of the Soyudlu ore and the results of metallurgical testwork, flotation has been identified as a necessary technology for the initial stage of ore processing. Accordingly, development of a modern flotation processing facility for the deposit is in progress.

The Soyudlu project currently provides employment for a total of 236 people, of which 55 are registered residents of the Kalbajar district, including personnel of the contractor companies. Considering the limited availability of personnel with the specialised qualifications, technical expertise and practical experience required for certain mining positions within the local labour market, qualified and experienced specialists from other regions have also been involved in the project.

The project is expected to create approximately 700 direct and indirect employment opportunities during 2026–2029, which covers the project’s initial development and construction stages. Once the Soyudlu mine reaches full-scale operations, total direct and indirect employment is expected to exceed 1,300 employees.