Representatives of international companies investing in Egypt’s mining sector met a delegation from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to discuss the developments and potential of the sector during a session titled “Spotlight on Egypt” at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention (PDAC), held in Toronto from March 1–4.
The session, organized in coordination with MineAfrica, a business development firm focusing on fostering mining investment and trade between Africa and North America, and the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, highlighted Egypt’s promising geological potential, particularly in the Arabian-Nubian Shield, which is known for its rich mineral resources. Yasser Ramadan, Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA), outlined Egypt’s key mining investment advantages, including diverse mineral resources, modernized legislation, a strategic location, and ongoing digital transformation efforts aimed at simplifying procedures and improving the business environment.
Patrick Barnes, Vice President, Head of Metals and Mining Consulting at the research and consulting firm, Wood Mackenzie, delivered a presentation on Egypt’s position on the global mining map. He pointed to the country’s significant untapped potential in gold and critical minerals, noting that recent reforms are helping attract international companies.
International mining companies’ representatives also shared insights during the session. From AngloGold Ashanti, the operator of Sukari Gold Mine, Stewart Bailey, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, discussed the company’s experience investing in Egypt, highlighted positive developments in the investment climate, and emphasized the importance of strengthening sustainability and environmental responsibility practices in mining operations.
Explaining Egypt’s promising exploration opportunities, Gaetan Coets, Vice President of Exploration at AKH Gold, said the Arabian‑Nubian Shield is one of the geologically rich gold regions that has not yet been sufficiently explored.
Stressing the importance of strong infrastructure and specialized technical services.
Darren Labrentz, Vice President of Exploration at Red Sea Resources, presented the company’s exploration activities in Egypt. He noted that areas within the Arabian-Nubian Shield remain largely underexplored, offering promising opportunities for discoveries.
The presentations concluded with remarks by Mike Silver, CSO, Co-Founder, and Director of Lotus Gold, who discussed investment opportunities in Egypt’s gold sector. He emphasized that regulatory developments and the government’s focus on developing the mining sector are strengthening investor confidence and opening avenues for new exploration projects.
On the sidelines of the convention, the delegation met with international organizations and global mining companies interested in investing in Egypt to discuss cooperation opportunities and promote investment in the mining sector. This includes talks with the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development (IGF) to explore strategies for strengthening Egypt’s participation in the forum. Discussions focused on leveraging IGF programs to enhance domestic training, governance, and investment promotion. IGF is an organization with over 85 member countries that supports governments in strengthening legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks for responsible mining practices.
Additionally, the delegation held high-level talks with the UK-based mining company, Anglo American, regarding exploration opportunities in Egypt; both parties agreed to advance these discussions through specialized technical teams
The delegation also visited the headquarters of Canada’s Centerra Gold and Franco-Nevada mining companies, where discussions focused on Egypt’s mining reforms, including transforming the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority into an economic body, updating exploration regulations, and launching an airborne geophysical survey and digital mining portal.
Additional meetings were held with AngloGold Ashanti and Lotus Gold to follow up on their ongoing exploration and mining activities in Egypt and review progress in their concession areas.
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