Anglo Asian Mining has taken a major step in transforming itself from a primarily gold-focused producer into a diversified copper and gold company after appointing Worley Europe to lead feasibility studies for its flagship Xarxar and Garadag copper projects in Azerbaijan. The move represents more than a routine engineering contract — it signals the company’s intention to advance two of its most important copper assets toward potential mine development at a time when global demand for copper continues to rise amid electrification, renewable energy expansion and infrastructure investment.
For the London-listed mining company, the feasibility studies mark a critical stage in building a long-term copper production platform. Xarxar and Garadag together contain more than one million tonnes of contained copper, providing Anglo Asian with a resource base capable of significantly reshaping its future production profile if technical studies confirm viable economics, efficient processing methods and manageable development costs.
The company plans to complete the Xarxar feasibility study by the middle of 2027, followed by the Garadag feasibility study during the first half of 2028. This staged approach allows Anglo Asian Mining to manage technical risk, optimize project sequencing and avoid advancing two large-scale capital projects simultaneously.
Copper Processing Strategy Could Increase Value Capture
A central focus of Worley’s engineering studies will be evaluating the most effective processing solutions for Xarxar and Garadag, with particular attention on copper heap leaching combined with solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW) technology.
The choice of processing method could have a significant impact on the economic value of the projects. Traditional copper mining operations often produce concentrates that must be transported to external smelters and refineries. This model exposes producers to treatment charges, refining costs, logistics expenses, smelter negotiations and penalties related to impurities.
By contrast, SX-EW technology could allow Anglo Asian to produce finished copper cathodes directly at the mine site. For Azerbaijan, this would represent an important development in the country’s mineral industry by moving copper production further along the value chain rather than exporting semi-processed material. Producing copper metal locally could provide several advantages, including greater control over revenue streams, reduced dependence on external processing facilities and potentially stronger relationships with customers seeking responsibly produced critical metals.
The feasibility studies must determine whether the geological and metallurgical characteristics of the deposits support this approach. Key factors will include copper recovery rates, acid consumption, water requirements, power availability, environmental controls and long-term operational stability.
Engineering Studies Will Define Mine Development Potential
The upcoming feasibility work will go beyond confirming resource size. It will examine the complete technical and economic framework required to build operating copper mines. Key areas of analysis will include mine planning, processing plant design, heap leach infrastructure, metallurgical performance, capital requirements, operating costs, waste management, environmental obligations and permitting requirements.
Copper heap leach projects can offer attractive development opportunities, but their success depends heavily on metallurgy. A large copper resource does not automatically translate into a profitable operation if mineral characteristics limit recovery rates or increase processing costs. The involvement of Worley Europe provides Anglo Asian Mining with an experienced engineering partner capable of testing these critical assumptions before major construction decisions are made.
90,000-Metre Drilling Campaign Supports Copper Expansion Plans
Alongside the feasibility studies, Anglo Asian Mining has launched an extensive 90,000-metre drilling programme covering 2026 and 2027. The programme includes around 55,000 metres of exploration drilling and approximately 35,000 metres dedicated to feasibility-related work. This strategy reflects two parallel objectives: converting existing mineral resources into mineable reserves while continuing to search for additional copper growth opportunities across its Azerbaijani licence areas.
At Xarxar, drilling has already begun with two rigs operating on site. Drilling at Garadag is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2026. The feasibility drilling programme will include infill drilling to support updated mineral resource estimates, as well as geotechnical, hydrogeological, metallurgical and infrastructure-related investigations. These studies are essential for determining where facilities can be constructed, how stable future mine infrastructure will be and whether processing assumptions can be supported by detailed technical evidence.
Exploration Pipeline Adds Long-Term Growth Potential
Beyond Xarxar and Garadag, Anglo Asian is continuing exploration across several prospective areas, including extensions near the two copper deposits, targets within the Gedabek contract area and additional opportunities around Demirli and Demirli South.
The company has also started underground drilling at the Gilar project, targeting both shallow mineralized zones and deeper extensions. For investors, these exploration activities will help determine whether Anglo Asian is developing a short-term replacement pipeline or building a broader copper production platform capable of supporting long-term growth.
Anglo Asian’s Transition Toward Copper Production
The company has been repositioning its business around copper and gold as its established operations mature and new projects enter development. Existing assets at Gedabek and Gadir have historically supported Anglo Asian’s production base, while projects such as Gilar and Demirli are expected to contribute to future growth.
The company has outlined plans to increase copper production to approximately 36,000 tonnes annually during its transition phase, with a longer-term target of around 55,000 tonnes per year from 2029–2030 as Garadag becomes part of the production portfolio. These targets represent a significant expansion for an AIM-listed mining company and explain why the Xarxar and Garadag feasibility studies are strategically important. They represent the technical foundation required to convert corporate ambitions into operating mines.
Garadag and Xarxar Key to Azerbaijan Copper Ambitions
Garadag is expected to become one of Anglo Asian’s most important future assets. The company estimates that the project could produce more than 300,000 tonnes of copper over its operational life, with production targeted to begin in 2029 under the current development strategy.
Xarxar, while smaller, could become an important early milestone. A successful feasibility outcome would demonstrate that Anglo Asian’s copper expansion model is technically achievable and provide valuable experience before larger investments are made at Garadag.
The projects also align with Azerbaijan’s efforts to develop higher-value mineral industries. Copper has become a strategically important commodity due to its essential role in electrical grids, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, industrial equipment and defence technologies. Developing domestic copper metal production would allow Azerbaijan to capture more economic value compared with exporting raw materials or concentrates.
Financing and ESG Considerations Will Shape Development Decisions
While the feasibility studies represent significant progress, Anglo Asian Mining still faces important challenges before reaching final investment decisions. Potential investors, lenders and strategic partners will closely examine capital costs, operating assumptions, metallurgical performance, environmental management systems and permitting progress.
The company will also need to demonstrate that it can fund expansion while maintaining financial discipline and limiting excessive shareholder dilution. In modern mining, geology alone rarely determines project success. Access to capital, construction capability, environmental performance and community acceptance are equally important factors in moving from resource discovery to commercial production.
Copper Market Outlook Supports Long-Term Development Strategy
The timing of Anglo Asian’s copper expansion comes as global markets increasingly focus on future copper supply shortages. Demand for copper is expected to remain strong due to power grid expansion, renewable energy deployment, electrification of transport and industrial modernization. At the same time, developing new copper mines has become increasingly challenging due to permitting delays, rising costs and limited availability of large-scale projects.
Projects that combine significant resources, proven processing methods and the ability to produce copper efficiently are likely to attract growing attention from investors and industrial consumers. Anglo Asian’s potential ability to produce copper metal directly at its Azerbaijani operations could provide a competitive advantage if technical studies confirm economic viability.
Engineering Evidence Will Determine Anglo Asian’s Future
Anglo Asian Mining remains several years away from construction decisions at Xarxar and Garadag, but the company has now established a clear roadmap for evaluating its copper growth strategy. The appointment of Worley Europe, the launch of a major drilling campaign and the defined feasibility timetable represent important milestones in the company’s transformation.
The next stage will depend on engineering results rather than resource headlines. Investors will focus on recovery rates, project costs, infrastructure requirements, construction schedules and the ability to convert copper resources into profitable mining operations. If Anglo Asian successfully advances both projects, its Azerbaijan mining portfolio could evolve from a collection of promising mineral assets into a significant regional copper growth platform.
