Egypt to kick off landmark mineral survey next June

CAIRO - 28 April 2026:  Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi said Egypt is set to begin implementing a comprehensive airborne geophysical survey for minerals in June, marking the first project of its kind in the country since 1984.

The announcement came during Badawi’s participation in the opening of the OECD Critical Minerals Forum in Istanbul, where he outlined Egypt’s strategy to unlock the full potential of its mining sector and position it as a key driver of economic growth.

Badawi said access to accurate geological data is essential for properly assessing mineral resources, presenting more attractive investment opportunities, encouraging investors, and accelerating investment decisions.

He noted that Egypt aims to raise the mining sector’s contribution to GDP from less than 1% currently to around 6%, supported by reforms designed to improve operational mechanisms, strengthen the investment climate, and maximize the sector’s economic value.

The minister highlighted Egypt’s strong mining potential, citing its mineral-rich geology, promising extensions of mineral formations with Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries, and advanced infrastructure that can help transform mineral resources into real economic value through transport, exports, and the localization of mining-related industries.

Badawi also pointed to Egypt’s diverse energy resources and expanding renewable energy capacity as important enablers of mining and industrial development, in line with the state’s plan to accelerate the increase of renewables in the electricity mix by 2028 instead of 2030.

He added that Egypt is working to create a more stable and attractive investment environment by updating legislative and contractual frameworks, adopting models aligned with global best practices, and offering suitable incentives to both major and medium-sized investors.

Badawi stressed the need for integrated cooperation between governments, the private sector, and industrial institutions to ensure access to advanced technologies that can maximize the value of mineral resources.

He also underlined the growing role of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in identifying previously unknown resources, reducing risks, and accelerating exploration and mining activities.

The minister called for wider collaboration to develop innovative commercial models for large-scale mineral exploitation, saying this would help overcome challenges related to cross-border cooperation and support the establishment of downstream industries linked to mineral resources.