Egypt has introduced a series of reforms to make its mining sector more attractive to international investors, including a year-round open-block system designed to accelerate exploration and reduce the time required to secure mining opportunities, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi said.

 

Speaking at the Africa Down Under mining and energy conference in Perth, Badawi said Egypt has implemented legislative and institutional changes over the past two years to create a more competitive investment environment and turn its geological potential into bankable opportunities.

 

Under the open-block system, mining areas can be offered to investors continuously throughout the year, allowing companies to assess available blocks and apply when ready rather than waiting for scheduled bidding rounds.

 

The reforms also include a shift to a royalty-and-tax-based exploitation model, an updated role for the Egyptian Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority, and a one-stop-shop mechanism to streamline approvals and licensing.

 

Badawi said the changes were developed following consultations with mining companies that began in late 2024, with the government seeking to address regulatory and operational barriers raised by investors.

 

Egypt has also introduced incentives targeting gold exploration companies, particularly junior and mid-sized firms. These include allowing exploration for multiple minerals within the same area, reducing exploration-area rental fees, permitting larger contiguous areas where geological conditions support them, and strengthening security arrangements for licensed exploration zones.

 

The government is also developing a digital mining platform that will allow investors to access available areas and geological data, apply for licenses, submit required documents and studies, and track applications and licenses electronically.

 

Badawi said the Egyptian Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority is being developed into a more commercially oriented entity, with expanded geological surveys and airborne exploration expected to generate updated data, reduce exploration risks and help companies target areas with stronger economic potential.

 

Egypt has around 100,000 square kilometers of exposed basement rocks across the Eastern Desert and southern Sinai, part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield, offering exploration potential for gold, copper, base metals, nickel, cobalt, platinum-group metals and rare earth elements.