Azerbaijani president lays foundation for basalt plant in Ganja PHOTO / UPDATED

On August 20, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a new basalt products manufacturing facility in the city of Ganja.

The facility will be operated by “Azerbazalt” LLC and is expected to contribute significantly to the development of Azerbaijan’s industrial production and construction materials sector, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The head of state and the First Lady were briefed on the project.

The facility will produce basalt powder and organic fertilisers derived from it. The project will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase requiring an investment of 27 million manat ($15.9 million).

The Azerbaijan Business Development Fund, under the Ministry of Economy, holds a 30 per cent stake in the project. The plant, spanning 4 hectares, is planned to produce 360,000 tons of organic fertilisers annually. Utilising technologies from Sweden and Türkiye, the facility will use high-quality basalt extracted from the “Chaykand” deposit in Goygol District as its primary raw material. The first phase is expected to provide permanent employment for 200 people.

In the second phase, the facility will produce high-tech innovative products such as basalt fiber, filament for 3D printers, and other industrial materials. This phase will add strategic value to the project while contributing to the supply of modern and sustainable products for the defense, construction, and high-tech sectors. An additional 300 people are expected to be employed during the second phase. The products will meet domestic demand and be exported to international markets.