Precious Metal Processing Plant in Dashkasan is put into full operation

The Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) Plant, built in Chovdar Integrated Regional Processing Area (CIRPA) of AzerGold CJSC in Dashkasan was put into full operation.

Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy, Matin Eynullayev, Chief of the State Service on Property Issues under the Ministry of Economy and Chairman of Supervisory Board of AzerGold CJSC, Orkhan Abbasov, Head of Dashkasan Region Executive Power and Zakir Ibrahimov, Chairman of the Executive Board of AzerGold CJSC, got acquainted with the activities of the Plant that will process precious metal ores by carbon-in-leach technology at CIRPA, as well as with the production and waste management processes at Chovdar mine. Professor Juan Jimenez of the Harvard Kennedy School and researchers of the Laboratory of the Harvard International Development Centre also participated in the event.

The Plant is aimed at boosting the efficiency in the processing of precious metal ores extracted from gold mines in Dashkasan and Goygol regions. AzerGold CJSC provided the required 383 million manats for the implementation of the project on its internal resources. The project enabled additional 101 permanent workplaces that contributed to the employment of the population in the region. Thus, the number of employed citizens in the region has reached 2 400 people within the Chovdar project.

AzerGold CJSC, which started production process at Chovdar gold mine in 2017, implemented extensive geological research at the deposit. Consequently, the resources of gold mine were increased, the Aghyokhush group of gold deposits and the Marah gold deposit were discovered. The Tulallar gold deposit, which was considered as a potential mineralization zone in the 1980s, was thoroughly explored based upon modern requirements. And all the three deposits have been put into operation. The amount of the salable gold reserves was increased from 179 thousand ounces to 609 thousand ounces due to oxide ores, transit and sulphide ores; and the operational period of the mine was extended until 2029. The total gold reserve has reached 778 thousand ounces through the mines in the vicinities.

In 2020, Chovdar Integrated Regional Processing Area (CIRPA) was established at Chovdar Ore Processing Area for the centralized use of material and technical resources in ore processing. The purpose of the new plant, built in the regional processing area of ​​535 hectares, is ore processing by the optimal technological methods. Depending on the composition and metallurgical properties of the ores, up to 90 percent of gold will be obtained through the Plant with an annual ore grinding capacity of 1.1 million tons.

All safety requirements were strictly observed during the project. The compliance of the production process with the environmental norms and standards was confirmed by the State Environmental Expertise Agency of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Health and safety at work were considered at the Plant.

The carbon-in-leach technology at CIRPA was designed based on the technology developed by a British company and its construction was supervised by a Korean company. The main contractor of the construction, which took 22 months, was a Turkish company. The Plant and all the auxiliary facilities were supplied with modern equipment manufactured in Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and Turkey.

The launch of the new plant will contribute to the regional socio-economic development and increase the export potential of precious metals.