Egypt is seeking to attract more Australian mining companies and investment as it advances reforms to make the sector more competitive and investor-friendly, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi said.
Speaking at a roundtable with senior mining investors on the sidelines of the African-Australian Mining and Energy Conference in Perth, Badawi outlined Egypt’s investment opportunities and recent sector reforms.
He stressed the importance of attracting international capital, expertise and advanced technologies to support the development of Egypt’s mining industry.
Badawi highlighted the country’s new “open blocks” system, describing it as a major shift in its approach to mining investment. The system allows companies to apply for exploration opportunities in designated areas throughout the availability period, rather than being tied to a single tender deadline.
The mechanism gives investors greater flexibility, simplifies application and allocation procedures, and helps accelerate the transition from initial interest to exploration, he said.
Badawi said Egypt also aims to broaden its mining investor base by attracting Australian exploration companies and benefiting from their expertise in establishing and developing mining businesses, financing exploration, managing risks and turning discoveries into producing projects.
The roundtable examined how Egypt could benefit from Australia’s experience in developing junior mining companies, particularly in securing promising exploration areas at an early stage, applying advanced exploration and resource-definition technologies, and attracting capital to move projects from discovery to production.
Participants discussed ways to facilitate the entry of Australian capital into Egypt and address investors’ needs for reliable geological data, clear regulatory and investment frameworks, and information on available opportunities.
They also explored opportunities in critical and strategic minerals, with the aim of expanding Egyptian-Australian mining cooperation beyond gold.
The discussions resulted in proposals to strengthen links between Egypt’s mining sector and Australia’s mining community and to make greater use of Australian expertise and advanced technologies in exploration and mineral-resource development.
The roundtable also highlighted the Egypt Mining Forum 2026, scheduled for September 28-29, as a key platform for continued engagement with international investors. The forum will showcase investment opportunities in Egypt and help turn investor interest into partnerships and mining projects.
