Foundation laid for basalt production enterprise in Ganja city

On August 20, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the basalt production facility of "Azerbasalt" LLC in the city of Ganja.

As reported by AZERTAG, the founder of "Azerbasalt" LLC, Rafet Aliyev, informed the head of state and the first lady about the enterprise.

It was reported that the facility will produce basalt powder and organic fertilizers based on it. The project will be implemented in two stages. The investment value of the first stage will amount to 27 million manats.

The Azerbaijan Business Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy owns a 30 percent share in the project. The plant, with a total area of 4 hectares, plans to produce 360 thousand tons of organic fertilizers per year. The enterprise will operate based on Swedish and Turkish technologies. High-quality basalt extracted from the "Chaykend" deposit in Goygol district will be used as the main raw material. It is expected that at the first stage of the project, 200 people will be provided with permanent jobs.

In the second stage of the project, high-tech innovative products based on basalt will be produced - basalt fiber, filament, which is a raw material for 3D printers, and other industrial materials. This, in turn, will not only increase the strategic value of the project but will also serve to provide the defense, construction, and high-tech sectors with modern and durable materials. As part of the second stage of the project, 300 people will be employed. The products will be directed to meet domestic demand, as well as exported to foreign markets.

It should be noted that there is a high demand for high-tech basalt products in international markets. Products of basalt origin are valuable, environmentally safe, and multifunctional materials for agriculture and industry. Volcanic basalt dust with high mineral content restores the nutrient balance of the soil, improves its structure and increases productivity, and also prevents acidification of water bodies. Basalt fibers are used to produce filtering, sound insulation, thermal insulation, anti-corrosion coatings, additives for concrete, and other high-strength materials used in construction. These materials are characterized by high heat resistance, strength, and environmental friendliness. Due to these properties, basalt fiber is widely used in high-tech fields such as aviation, rocket engineering, defense industry, and automotive engineering.

The creation of this enterprise, thanks to the application of a model for transforming local resources into added value, environmentally friendly and sustainable production, will serve the development of Azerbaijan's non-oil industry and will contribute to increasing the production of competitive and export-oriented products. Working with local raw materials, the enterprise will ensure the rational use of internal natural resources and strengthen the production chain.

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On August 20, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the basalt production facility of "Azerbasalt" LLC in the city of Ganja.

This is reported by AZERTAG.