Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mustafa Madbouli recently hosted a roundtable discussion on developing the country's mining sector. The event, titled "From Discovery to Industrial Development: Building Investor Confidence through the Mining Sector Value Chain in Egypt," was part of the fifth edition of the Egypt Mining Forum 2026. The forum was launched under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with the theme "Unlocking Egypt's Exploratory Potential and the Nubian Arab Shield."
During the roundtable, Madbouli emphasized that the government is focusing on exploring Egypt's geological potential and linking mineral wealth to industry, energy, and infrastructure. He noted that significant investments have been made to provide energy and infrastructure necessary for the mining industry to thrive. The prime minister also highlighted the importance of converting forum outcomes into tangible projects on the ground.
The roundtable was attended by several government ministers, including Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mahmoud Esmat, Petroleum and Mineral Wealth Minister Karim Badawi, and Industry Minister Khaled Hashim. Representatives from major companies and international institutions, as well as finance institutions, also participated in the discussion. The meeting aimed to discuss ways to develop the mining sector, enhance added value, and provide infrastructure and energy for mining projects.
Minister Badawi emphasized that developing the mining sector is not limited to exploiting mineral resources but also aims to create real mineral wealth that generates added value and benefits all parties. He stressed the importance of global partnerships in developing the sector and highlighted the government's efforts to provide support and incentives to investors.
The discussion also touched on the importance of infrastructure in supporting the transition from mining projects to processing and manufacturing stages. Participants explored ways to develop industries linked to mineral ores and benefit from international experiences in this field. Egypt's potential in gold production and its strategic location were also highlighted as opportunities for future partnerships.
The roundtable also addressed the issue of energy, with Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mahmoud Esmat assuring that the government is working to provide electricity for investment projects. He noted that solutions and procedures are being discussed to meet the energy needs of mining projects, including the use of renewable energy sources and energy storage.
The discussion concluded with a focus on the importance of speeding up government procedures related to investment requests, tenders, and licenses. Participants emphasized the need to accelerate the issuance of environmental approvals and complete mine licensing procedures to allow for the start of operations and production as soon as possible.
Key points
- The Egyptian government is prioritizing the development of the mining sector, with a focus on exploring geological potential and linking mineral wealth to industry, energy, and infrastructure.
- The roundtable discussion aimed to discuss ways to develop the mining sector, enhance added value, and provide infrastructure and energy for mining projects.
- The government is working to provide support and incentives to investors, including speeding up procedures related to investment requests and licenses.
