مصر والسعودية تعززان الشراكة في منتدى مصر للتعدين 2025

The Egyptian capital, Cairo, hosted the fourth edition of the Egypt Mining Forum on July 15 and 16, 2025, under the slogan "Accelerating Commercial Discovery, Exploration, Extraction, and Achieving Added Value from Raw Materials."

The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Engineer Karim Badawi, held a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Engineer Khalid Al-Mudaifer, in the presence of the accompanying delegation, to discuss enhancing the strategic partnership between the two countries in the mining sector, with the aim of achieving sustainable development and maximizing shared economic interests.

According to a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum, the Egyptian minister reviewed during the meeting the achievements made by the mining sector in Egypt, affirming the ministry's commitment to creating an attractive investment environment through clear legislation and a competitive framework.

He highlighted key strategic projects, such as the phosphoric acid production project with an investment cost of $658 million, which aims to produce 250,000 tons annually of high-concentration phosphoric acid using phosphate ores from the Abu Tartour mines, thereby enhancing the added value of Egyptian mining raw materials.

Badawi also praised the international mining conference organized by the Kingdom, pointing out the potential to benefit from the successful Saudi experience in this field, especially in light of the promising capabilities in southern Egypt, which is witnessing seismic research activities to accelerate exploration processes.

Engineer Khalid Al-Mudaifer expressed his appreciation for the excellent organization of the Egypt Mining Forum 2025, commending the significant turnout from investors and global companies, which reflects Egypt's seriousness in integrating mining into its national economy.

He confirmed the existence of enormous shared potentials between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, supported by the geographical proximity that offers opportunities for regional integration in mining projects. He noted that the Red Sea area represents a promising investment opportunity, especially in the field of gold and other ores, which enhances bilateral cooperation and attracts global investments.

The forum witnessed high-level participation, including ministers from various countries, as well as ambassadors and representatives of major global mining companies such as Barrick Gold and AngloGold Ashanti.

The events included the signing of two new agreements for gold and associated minerals exploration with global companies, enhancing Egypt's position as a regional hub for mining exploration.

The forum also discussed pivotal files such as investment opportunities in the Nubian Shield, exploration licenses, project financing, and industrial integration, with a focus on innovative technologies and sustainable practices in the mining industry.

During his opening speech, Engineer Badawi emphasized that Egypt seeks to transform the mining sector into one of the pillars of economic growth, supported by a new law that converts the Mineral Resources Authority into an independent economic entity, aiming to increase the sector's contribution to the GDP from 1% to 5-6% over the coming years.

He pointed out a 131% increase in mineral revenue during the fiscal year 2024-2025, with the production of 640,000 ounces of gold and silver during the same period.

Meanwhile, Al-Mudaifer confirmed that Egypt possesses the components for a successful mining strategy, including clear legislation, guaranteed concession rights, competitive financial policies, and strong infrastructure. He noted that regional cooperation between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan opens avenues for establishing mining industrial clusters, relying on shared natural resources such as gold and phosphate, thereby enhancing the region's global competitiveness.