Azerbaijan aims to diversify global critical mineral supplies, minister says

Azerbaijan intends to contribute to diversifying global supplies of critical minerals, with more than 1,000 mineral deposits registered across the country, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rashad Ismayilov has said.

Speaking at the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2026) in Baku, he noted that data from the State Geological Fund is currently being digitised to make information on available resources more accessible to potential investors, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

According to the minister, reliable supplies of critical minerals had become an important factor in economic security, and demand for new materials is being driven by the energy transition, the development of electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.

In his words, risks linked to geopolitical tensions, export restrictions and the concentration of supplies among a limited number of producers are increasing.

"Geological exploration has enabled us to register more than 1,000 mineral deposits. The metal ore deposits identified in the Lesser Caucasus, Nakhchivan and the Balakan-Zagatala region provide a basis for assessing the potential of critical mineral resources," Ismayilov outlined.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov