Badawi, speaking at a meeting with representatives from key mining companies, said the government's objective is to process raw materials and increase their added value for the economy. He praised the Sukari mine as a success story and an example of environmental preservation.
In a related development, Hani Moustafa, CEO of Shalateen
for Mineral Resources, reported that total gold production from the Iqat mine
and artisanal mining systems exceeded 900 kilograms in 2024. The company has
set a target to increase production to approximately six tonnes within five
years.
The minister also highlighted a planned industrial complex
in Aswan to regulate artisanal mining, aiming to protect state rights while
providing greater opportunities for local prospectors.
Badawi's comments were made during general assembly meetings
for several mining companies, including Shalateen, Wadico, and the Sukari Gold
Mine. The meeting addressed key developments in the sector, including the
transformation of the Mineral Resources Authority into an economic entity to
attract investment.
During the meeting, AngloGold Ashanti Chief Operating
Officer Marcelo Pereira underscored the company's commitment to its strategic
partnership with Egypt, which he called one of the most important countries in
its business portfolio.
Separately, Amgad Ghoneim, CEO of Wadico, reviewed plans to
increase reserves of phosphate ore, noting that the company added 5.4 million
tonnes of new reserves in 2025. Wadico also plans to launch an environmentally
friendly, solar-powered phosphate crusher in Aswan.
During the general assembly of Sukari Gold Mines, attended
by Engineer Hoda Mansour, Managing Director and Vice President of the company
and representative of the global company AngloGold Ashanti, accountant Mohamed
Mahmoud, Chairman of the Board of Directors, reviewed the vision for expanding
environmental projects. These projects include generating electricity from
solar energy at the mine, and a project for treating water and production waste
for safe disposal.
Dr. Amr Hassan, Chairman of the Egyptian Mineral Resources
Company, confirmed that the company is seeking to improve product quality to
achieve added value and increase marketing and competitive capabilities to meet
the needs of the local market.
He added that it aims for a total production of various raw materials of about 593,000 tons, especially from phosphate, and other mineral ores such as quartz and talc. New sectors are being assigned at the Wadi Al-Shaghab site to achieve the highest production rates, and work will also be carried out for the first time on tin ore.