Egypt has launched its first comprehensive nationwide aerial mining survey in more than four decades, in a move officials say could reshape the country’s mineral sector and attract fresh foreign investment into one of Africa’s largest economies.
The project, described by the government as one of the country’s most strategic mining initiatives in recent years, will use advanced aircraft and geophysical technologies to map Egypt’s mineral wealth across six major regions, including the Eastern Desert, Sinai, and parts of the Western Desert.
The initial contract for the survey was signed at Marsa Alam Airport in the presence of Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Eng. Karim Badawi, alongside senior government officials and representatives of the Spanish geophysical company X-Calibre.
But beyond the ceremonial signing lies a much bigger ambition: Egypt wants to position itself as a more competitive mining destination as global demand for critical minerals accelerates.
“This is the first comprehensive aerial mining survey conducted in Egypt in 42 years,” Badawi said during the signing ceremony.
