with the independence of armenia in 1991, a new administrative reform was applied in 1995, abolishing the raions of the soviet period. thus, kajaran was included within the newly formed syunik province. the zangezur copper and molybdenum combine continued its operations after the independence until 1994, when it was ceased due to the post-independence economic crisis. in 2004, production was relaunched after the privatization of the plant. nowadays, the zangezur plant is one of the largest industrial firms of armenia.