On March 24, Anglo Asian Mining Plc. (AAM), a company engaged in gold, silver, and copper extraction in Azerbaijan, began mining its first ore at the Gilar deposit.

According to the company, the Gilar deposit is estimated to contain over 255,000 ounces of gold, and AAM plans to gradually increase production in the coming months, targeting 50,000–60,000 tons of ore per month. "With confirmed reserves of more than 54,000 tons of copper and 255,000 ounces of gold, Gilar will play a crucial role in our strategy to transition into a mid-tier producer," the company's CEO, Reza Vaziri, stated.

Gilar is a mineral deposit located in the Gadabay contract area, approximately 7 km from the company’s processing facilities. Anglo Asian Mining currently operates in the Gadabay and Gosha contract areas. A production-sharing agreement (PSA) was signed on August 21, 1997, outlining the development of six deposits, with Azerbaijan holding a 51% share and AAM controlling 49%. At present, AAM has the rights to develop eight contract areas in Azerbaijan.

Notably, in June 2023, the village of Söyüdlü in Azerbaijan's Gadabay District became the center of environmental protests against operations at the Gadabay gold mine, managed by the British company Anglo Asian Mining. Residents protested the construction of a second artificial lake intended to store toxic waste from mining activities. They alleged that the existing tailings pond, containing arsenic and cyanide, was already causing serious health issues, including cancer, and harming local agriculture. The situation escalated as riot police used forceful measures, including chemical irritants sprayed directly into the faces of elderly protesters, leading to multiple arrests and widespread condemnation.