As part of Egypt’s broader strategy to harness its mineral wealth and reduce reliance on fossil fuel electricity sources, they are set to prioritize mining and renewable energy projects [1] in 2025. The country’s Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister, Karim Badawi, announced these plans during a session in Egypt’s Senate, emphasizing the launch of a new mining portal that provides data and maps for investors.
The initiative aims to attract investment into the mining sector, which includes a variety of minerals such as phosphate, lead, iron, zinc, coal, and sulfur. The portal is designed to facilitate investment opportunities by offering geological data and maps of mining areas, promoting Egypt’s mining sector on a global scale. In 2023, Egypt’s metal production reached approximately 13 million tonnes, with exports exceeding 2.3 million tonnes.
“We have plans to offer new mining investment opportunities in 2025 within a strategy to exploit our mineral wealth and stimulate the national economy,” Badawi said. He added, “Egypt is rich in minerals and metals and we have established that there is a proven geological reserve of various ores and minerals, including phosphate, lead, iron, zinc, coal and sulphur…..we also have 8 companies prospecting for gold.”
In addition to mining, Egypt plans to expand its renewable energy projects to increase the share of renewables in the country’s energy mix from just over 20% at the end of 2023 to nearly 42% by 2030, with a targeted share of 60% by 2040. This shift is expected to save national gas resources for value-added projects and enable the export of surplus gas. The revised energy strategy, endorsed in 2024, aims to reduce hydrocarbon consumption and increase the use of renewable energy sources.
The strategy also includes legislative and legal reforms to update contract models, regulate financial systems, licensing, and organizational structures, and transform the Mineral Resources Authority into an economic entity. These reforms are intended to align with global mining standards and maximize the added value of mining ores.
Moreover, Egypt plans to leverage its strategic location to enhance regional cooperation and maximize infrastructure usage. This includes forming partnerships with neighboring countries to benefit from new discoveries and utilizing Egypt’s infrastructure to import and re-export gas.
The strategy emphasizes health, safety, environmental sustainability, and energy efficiency, aiming to foster a safe work environment that attracts investments and supports sustainability projects, including carbon emissions reduction.
Sources:
[1] Egypt to focus on mining, renewable energy projects in 2025 https://www.zawya.com/en/projects/mining/egypt-to-focus-on-mining-renewable-energy-projects-in-2025-nfzem1mc
