Under the slogan of the Arabian-Nubian Shield Sisi inaugurates the fifth edition of the Egypt Mining Forum

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi opened the fifth edition of the Egypt Mining Forum 2026, which was held between September 28 and 29, 2026 in the New Capital. There, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced that 119 companies applied in just three months to the open zones system, and that the state aims to raise the sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product to about 6%.

Opening of the Egypt Mining Forum

The forum was held this year under the slogan “Unlocking the exploratory potential of Egypt and the Arabian-Nubian Shield,” in which investors from the field of mining inside and outside Egypt participated, In addition to ministers and officials from the sector from a number of countries active in it, Engineer Karim Badawi, “Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources,” gave an opening speech, in which he affirmed that Egypt possesses the basic components to build an integrated mining sector.

What does the state want from the mining sector?

In his speech at the Egypt Mining Forum, the Minister set the goal of raising the mining sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product to about 6% during the next phase, accompanied by an increase in investments, the number of operating companies, and an expansion in manufacturing projects.

In this context, Engineer Karim Badawy indicated that President Sisi constantly supports the sector, and that maximizing the benefit of natural resources and opening new investment horizons are the state’s top priorities, explaining that The essence of the trend is to shift from exporting raw materials in their raw form to maximizing the value added from them.

Egypt’s components: geology and energy

The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources reviewed the foundations upon which the development of the mining sector is based, particularly the diverse geological wealth in the Eastern Desert and South Sinai. Egypt’s location within the Arabian-Nubian Shield provides opportunities to search for many minerals, including:

• Gold
• Copper
• Nickel
• Cobalt
• Earth Elements

This wealth is integrated with the availability of energy sources and a developed network of roads And ports. Egypt is geographically linked to three continents, overlooks the Mediterranean and Red Seas, and owns the Suez Canal, which is one of the most important arteries of global trade.

Listening to foreign investors

On the other hand, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources stressed that legislative reforms and development of the sector require direct listening to investors. That is why the opinions of investors in various mining markets, from Australia to Canada, were surveyed to find out their needs and the challenges they face.

Aerial survey: more accurate data for smarter decisions

The Minister also stressed the importance of providing a more comprehensive and accurate geological database through targeted aerial survey work nationwide. Because it helps investors make decisions It is based on better information, reduces the risks and costs of research and exploration, and directs capital to the most attractive areas.

Phosphate and its industry

In the issue of maximizing added value, Engineer Karim Badawi explained that Egypt ranks third in phosphate ore reserves in the world, and seventh in production in 2025, and the state is working to maximize the benefit from this resource.

Eight new phosphate industrial projects are now being implemented, the most prominent of which are: the first phase of the phosphoric acid complex in Abu Tartur, which has a production capacity of 250 thousand tons annually, and investments amounting to $650 million, and its production will begin in 2028.

Fertilizers, energy and industries of the future

The projects also include the production of phosphate fertilizers, in cooperation with Egyptian and international investors, as the state expands the exploitation of raw materials and minerals necessary for the energy industry and future industries. Here, the minister stressed that the goal goes beyond increasing production to maximizing added value, creating new job opportunities, and increasing exports.

Training in Australia and the New Valley

Regarding investment in the mining sector, it includes – according to the minister’s statement – knowledge, geology, technology, and infrastructure, in addition to the human element. Therefore, the state is interested in preparing engineers, geologists, and technicians capable of dealing with the latest exploration and extraction techniques.

To achieve all of this, training programs were launched at Murdoch University Australian University,” and work is underway to establish a school for applied technology in the field of mining and phosphate in the New Valley, in order to prepare technical cadres to meet the needs of the sector.

Three concluding messages

Engineer Karim Badawi, “Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources,” relied on Egypt’s ancient history when he addressed in his speech mining, Egypt’s geological wealth, its infrastructure, its human capabilities, and its advanced legislative framework, saying that this qualifies the mining sector to move to a new phase, a phase in which exploration expands, production increases, investments diversify, and partnerships with investors deepen.

Message to investors

Regarding investors, the minister explained that Egypt is opening its doors to serious mining investments. It welcomes long-term partnerships based on the transfer of knowledge and technology, and maximizing added value; This is why the state is committed to developing the investment environment, listening to investors, and removing challenges to exploration and production activities.

A message to the youth of Egypt

To the youth, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources sent a message stating that mining is one of the most important doors to the future for new generations, and the goal is to enable national cadres to possess the knowledge and skills necessary to lead the sector’s development process. He also stressed that Egypt’s underground wealth will be fully valued by the minds of its people.

Message to the mining community

Then he explained that the Egypt Mining Forum is the beginning of a new phase for transforming underground resources To real value to the Egyptian economy, he expressed his aspiration that the forum’s work would result in new partnerships and investments in Egypt and the region.

Finally, the picture that came out by the Egypt Mining Forum reveals that the real battle in the mining sector revolves around what happens after the minerals are found. The presence of gold, phosphate, copper, or other minerals creates economic value when the state has the ability to accurately read their deposits, attract investment to them, extract them efficiently, and then introduce them into industries that give them a longer economic life and a broader impact.

The Earth Guards Foundation views this stage as a test of Egypt’s way of managing its natural resources, and if Egypt succeeds in building this integrated circle, mining can be transformed from a sector that extracts latent value into A sector that creates new value within the economy; This is the shift that gives geological wealth its broader developmental meaning.