On the sidelines of his participation, representing Egypt, in the OECD Critical Minerals Forum which started today in Istanbul, Eng. Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, held a series of meetings with several Turkish mining companies, to discuss cooperation opportunities in this vital sector, facilitating the attraction of Turkish investments into Egypt's mining industry, and exchanging technical expertise and best practices in light of Egypt's ongoing efforts to develop the mining sector.
The Minister met with Mr. Taner Yılmaz, CEO of the Turkish company "OZ Minerals," in the presence of Ambassador Dr. Wael Badawi, Egypt's Ambassador to Türkiye, and Geologist Yasser Ramadan, Chairman of Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA). They discussed activating and building upon the outcomes of previous discussions between the working groups of MRMIA and OZ.
The Minister emphasized that Egypt has implemented significant reforms to present itself as a promising destination for mining investment and to create a more attractive and transparent environment for investors, leveraging its strategic location as a gateway linking Africa, Europe, and Asia, along with its advanced infrastructure and robust logistical capabilities.
The Minister highlighted the importance of maximizing the value addition of mineral resources beyond extraction by expanding mineral-based manufacturing projects or processing certain ores to enhance their economic value.
Both sides also discussed cooperation in human resources training and technical knowledge transfer to qualify Egyptian cadres according to the latest international practices in the mining industry.
Additionally, the Minister met with Mr. Semih Demircan, Operations Director at Tuprag Mining. During the meeting, the Minister pointed out that Egypt offers a promising environment for gold exploration and exploitation, given the legislative reforms and the attractive investment climate, as well as its strong infrastructure. He pointed out that Sukari Gold Mine, one of the top 15 gold mines globally, represents a repeatable success story given Egypt's mineral-rich geological nature. Tuprag's representative reviewed the company's capabilities and expertise in gold mining and technology, praising Egypt's steps in developing its mining investment environment. An invitation was extended to the company's officials to visit Egypt and explore available mining opportunities firsthand.
The Minister also held a meeting with Dr. Alper Çelebi, General Manager of Sanko Enerji, a renewable energy company, to review Egypt's plans to expand renewable energy projects and accelerate the goal of generating 42% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
The Minister emphasized the powerful integrated efforts with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy to reach the optimal energy mix, highlighting that the oil and gas sector is enhancing its reliance on renewable energy and improving energy efficiency across its operations to support emission reduction and rationalize traditional energy consumption.
Eng. Karim Badawi at OECD Critical Minierals Forum - 2
