Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 /Trend/
Azer Ahmedbeyli, expert of Trend's analytical center
Anglo Asian Mining plc, the AIM listed gold producer, yesterday announced positive results from its 5,460m Phase 1 drilling campaign at its flagship Gedabek gold/copper mine ('Gedabek') in Azerbaijan. "These latest drilling results covering the existing pit continue to demonstrate consistent solid gold, silver and copper grades and continuity of mineralisation at Gedabek," Anglo Asian CEO Reza Vaziri said. "With a current resource base of 791,000oz of gold, 49,300t of copper and 7,597,000oz of silver for all categories, it is our intention to continue both infill and exploration drilling at Gedabek."
This project is focussed on expanding the existing resource outline in order to announce an increased and upgraded resource by Q1 2012 and in turn, a JORC compliant reserve estimate thereafter. "In addition, with gold and copper production continuing to perform solidly at Gedabek we remain confident of realising our production target of 58,000 to 60,000oz of gold and 525 tons of copper for FY 2011," he said.
The October newsletter of the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) presented recent data on supply, demand and prices for the period from January to July this year: the production of refined copper in the world increased by 2.2 percent compared to the same period of 2010, consumption excluding China, increased by 4 percent, the shortage of production amounted to 118,000 tons, the average price per ton on the London Metal Exchange reached 9.430 compared to $7.070 over the first seven months of 2010.
China is far ahead in the world imports of copper. Getting rid of existing dollar reserves, China buys raw materials, thus strengthening its resilience to possible new economic shocks in the ongoing competition. But there is another version. Copper production in China is increasing every year (seven months of this year grew by 15 percent), but the country does not diminish, but continues to increase import volumes larger than needed for commercial use - a fact strongly evident.
China has officially announced that it has four million tons of copper reserves valued at $1.3 billion, but unofficial sources describe the figure at least four times greater. According to experts of the Money Morning Investment Group, China is trying to make the raw materials a kind of new world currency instead of dollar, a new accounting tool for making international transactions, and the main role in this case will be played not by the gold, but copper, the practical application of which is far higher. This is a long-term goal, the implementation of which would help ensure world leadership.
Copper, as a perfect conductor of electric current, is a key product in the construction of electricity networks. According to forecasts of IEA, the global energy consumption in 2030 will increase by 2.5 percent annually, and power generation will make up additional 4800 hW. Covering the growing worldwide demand for electricity will require thousands of kilometers of copper cable. The second important factor in covering the future demand for copper is the automobile industry. Today, the ordinary middle-class car contains 22.5 kg of copper, but as for a car of "premium" class, copper wire is used in length of one and a half kilometers.
The volume of copper is more, up to forty kilograms in the new generation cars (with an electric motor or hybrid), of which production is increasing every year. In the high-speed trains of new generation, 2 to 4 tons of copper is used, whereas in the conventional electric locomotives - 1 to 2 tons.
The total volume of gold reserves in Azerbaijan stored in the Central Bank of the country has now reached 12.514.7 troy ounces (389.2 kg with a market value of $18.7 million).
Azerbaijan could also create a strategic reserve of copper from its own resources, given that six of the field are so far developed only by one. It is now exported.
Anglo Asian Mining PLC is the only company to develop gold fields in Azerbaijan, registered in the list of Alternative Investment Market of London Stock Exchange. Anglo Asian Mining Plc owns the rights to develop six fields in south-west Azerbaijan at Gedabey, Ordubad, Gosha Bulag, Gizil Bulag, Vejnali and Soyutlu. The concession is based on PSA agreements signed with the Azerbaijani government in August 1997. According to the contract, production plans aim to yield 400 tons of gold, 2,500 tons of silver, and 1.5 million tons of copper. Gold and silver were first discovered in Gedabek in May 2009.