STRATEGIC CONFERENCE

Egypt has a plethora of mineral ores, including phosphate, limestone, coal, ornamental stones, dolomite, black sand and quartz, as well as precious metals such as gold, copper, silver, zinc and platinum. While the country's mineral riches have the potential to make it one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world, it was previously lacking a competitive mining policy that provided attractive returns to investors. Egypt is now well-positioned to enhance the sector’s contribution to the country's GDP in the coming years, thanks to its modernisation programme which included reforms to its mining code, the establishment of a new regulatory framework for exploitation, and the development of a mining portal to provide potential investors with accessible data.

Attendee Insights :
This Ministerial keynote speech will highlight Egypt’s progress in becoming the next big exploration zone and making the mining sector a key contributor to its economy.

As the world steps up its demand for minerals and metals in pursuit of net zero targets, there is a growing recognition that a more sustainable and decarbonised approach to mining operations is needed. With ambitions to establish itself as a world-class trading hub for minerals and metals by 2040, Egypt continues to develop a green mining value chain based on environmentally friendly practices. The country is making a concerted effort to decarbonise its operations and minimise the environmental impact of its mining sector by implementing a circular economy to reduce waste, increasing the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, and utilising renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. In addition, supporting sustainability in mining through effective policymaking.

Attendee Insights :
Egypt’s strategies and policies to decarbonise its operations for a green mining future will be highlighted in this Ministerial keynote speech.

Finding a mineral deposit and developing it into a commercial mine is a long, costly and complex process that can take several years. Mining is considered a high-risk industry with many unique characteristics and governments have an important role to play in the development of the mineral resources of their countries. For any country to develop its exploration sector, clarity around regulations and security of tenure is fundamental, as international investors seek clear and transparent guidelines for exploiting commercially viable mineral resources before committing to investments. Governments can support this process by establishing clear legal frameworks, ensuring political stability and providing access to comprehensive data.

Attendee Insights :
A vital ministerial panel which discusses the role of governments in promoting exploration projects to international investors.

The potential for mineral exploration and development in Egypt’s Eastern desert is limitless, untapped, and largely undiscovered. The Egyptian government has demonstrated its commitment to creating a more investor-friendly environment by implementing new mining regulations, providing comprehensive data via a new investment portal, streamlining administrative procedures, and increasing transparency. These initiatives aim to provide a stable and reliable framework for both foreign and domestic investors. Among Egypt’s advantages is its strategic location which serves as a gateway between Africa, the Middle East and Europe, as well as its existing infrastructure including power lines, roads, ports and railways that are already in place near the concession zones to support the efficient transportation of minerals and facilitates the export process.

Attendee Insights :
A high-level CEO panel which explores the steps Egypt can take to become a world class global mining destination for international investors.

Junior mining companies are considered as the backbone of exploration and are instrumental in laying the groundwork for potential discoveries of commercial mines. Attracting these companies is therefore foundational to the success of a country’s mining sector. Given the considerable amount of risk in exploration, all junior mining companies look for stability and security when considering investments in projects due to the length of time it usually takes to progress from exploration to mining. Establishing an attractive landscape for junior miners therefore requires favourable policies, transparent regulatory frameworks, and access to capital. This, in turn, can position a country as a competitive player on the global stage, whilst enabling an attractive landscape for investors to carry out exploration projects.

Attendee Insights :
Panellists will examine the strategies required to foster a supportive investment landscape for junior mining companies in current market conditions.

Global financial markets are increasingly factoring climate risk into their financial decisions and capital is progressively being directed towards assets that are compatible with the transition to a net-zero future. Despite this trend, precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum continue to attract the most investment due to its significant value and desirability, however interest in nickel and lithium is increasing, driven by the energy transition. With rising demand from key industrial sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, clean technologies, electric vehicles, construction, and others, capital has risen in the rankings as the mining industry competes for investment and incentives to accelerate exploration and development of minerals, metals, ores, and aggregates.

Attendee Insights :
Experts will explore the opportunities and challenges in the mining and metals investors landscape following disruptions in supply and demand, commodity price volatility, geopolitical uncertainties, and regulatory changes.

The global demand for critical minerals and the manufactured products they go into is set to increase significantly in the coming years to enable the energy transition. As the world shifts towards a net zero future and mining ramps up to supply the minerals needed for clean technologies, there is a growing need for the mining sector to meet the ever-growing demand for metals and minerals whilst mitigating its own negative impact on the environment. Recognising the need for change, the industry is taking positive steps to become more responsible towards local community development, whilst integrating innovative green technologies and sustainable practices into its operations to reduce its carbon footprint.

Attendee Insights :
The panel will explore how the mining sector can become sustainable and responsible whilst supplying the materials needed for the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The mining sector plays a critical role in the global energy transition to achieve net-zero targets by 2050. Given the mineral intensity of clean energy technologies, any potential vulnerabilities or disruptions to the mineral supply and value chains could impact the rate and scale of renewable technology manufacturing. As such, managing the minerals supply chain risks is crucial to ensure they adapt and expand to meet the global demand of the energy transition. How is the mining industry ensuring a consistent supply of minerals to increase production at a rate never witnessed before, while also effectively managing supply chain resilience to avoid any potential disruptions to production?

Attendee Insights :
A critical discussion on strengthening supply and value chains with short term actions as well as future preparations to sustain a reliable and resilient supply chain ecosystem to meet the growing global demand for minerals.

The energy transition presents a generational opportunity for Africa to benefit from its critical minerals. The continent holds 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, many of which are crucial for achieving net-zero targets and are needed for clean technologies including solar, electric vehicles, battery storage, and geothermal. To meet the expected rise in global demand, production of minerals and metals such as copper, lithium, graphite and cobalt will need to increase by nearly 500% by 2050. This cannot be achieved without Africa’s mineral reserves. African nations are introducing local content policies, laws, and other regulatory frameworks to support economic growth and development, ensuring they profit from the extraction and use of these vital minerals.

Attendee Insights :
The panel will discuss the important role of Africa in the global energy transition and how the continent can benefit from the increased demand of its critical minerals.

Artisanal and small-scale mining is a major source of mineral resources production in the world and is a vital livelihood for millions of people in developing countries where employment is scarce. It is largely informal and is a labour-intensive method of mineral extraction that operates with low levels of safety measures, health care, environmental protection or human rights. Given the importance of artisanal mining to the global economy, empowering it has the potential to provide considerable social and economic benefits while also promoting sustainable development. Formalising the sector will provide small-scale miners access to formal markets, which can increase their income, reduce their vulnerability to exploitation and improve their safety and wellbeing. Furthermore, it enables governments to integrate informal income-generating activities into the economy via legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks.

Attendee Insights :
The exponential growth of the artisanal mining sector and small-scale mining will be discussed, as well as the challenges governments face to formalise the sector.

Egypt is set to introduce a landmark investment portal that will reshape its mining industry in line with a revised modern mining code. The development of the portal is a testament to the country’s aspirations of transforming itself into an investor-friendly destination, serving as a central platform to connect stakeholders, streamline processes and facilitate investment opportunities. Among its many benefits, the portal will enable the government to provide investors with transparency and accessibility through real time data, as well as vital information about mineral reserves, exploration projects and market trends. The investment portal will represent a significant milestone and is fundamental to putting Egypt on the global mining investment map.

Attendee Insights :
The investment portal's critical role in developing a thriving mining sector in Egypt, as well as serving as a catalyst for transparency and accessibility to investors, will be explored during this discussion.

The Eastern Desert is part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield and has a rich history of mining, with over a thousand ancient mining sites dating back over 5,000 years to pre-pharaonic times. The mining activities conducted by ancient Egyptian miners were carried out through traditional methods and lacked modern equipment, limiting their ability to dig deeper than 30 metres, meaning that a significant amount of minerals remain beneath the surface. Exploration in the Eastern Desert faces specific challenges, which can complicate the discovery and evaluation of mineral deposits. This includes the desert climate, where water required for drilling and sample processing is scarce. Furthermore, because the region has been substantially underexplored over the last 100 years, there is a lack of detailed geological surveys and data, making exploration more complex.

Attendee Insights :
Geologists and exploration experts will share their insights evaluating the mineral development challenges in the Eastern Desert.

One of the biggest challenges the mining industry faces globally is a growing skills gap created by an aging workforce and a shortage of graduates waiting next in line. As demand for minerals continues to increase, it is anticipated that over 20% of mining professionals will retire and over 80,000 jobs will go unfilled in the sector by 2030. To cope with such drastic labour shortages, mining companies must attract gen-z talent, which will make up 30% of the future workforce. The recruitment of women in the mining sector goes beyond the difficulties in attracting the next generation of talent. Despite studies that demonstrate the benefits of diversity on financial and operating performance, just 16% of the mining workforce is female.

Attendee Insights :
Mining thought leaders will explore how the industry is reinventing itself to be more gender diverse, as well as how the sector can attract the next generation of professionals to address skill gap concerns.

Under the leadership of His Excellency Tarek El Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the government is seeking to target $1 billion in new mining investments by 2040. Having recently undergone reforms of a modern mining code and implemented policies to promote the development of the industry, Egypt has ambitions to develop its mining sector so that it can contribute significantly to the country's economy. The combination of the country's mineral wealth, the introduction of new regulations, low-cost energy, and highly skilled but cheap labour positions Egypt as an exciting destination for mining exploration and investment. The progress made by the Ministry to modernise the mining sector represents its commitment to unlocking the full potential of its rich mineral resources.

Attendee Insights :
A frank and open conversation with His Excellency Tarek El Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, on the future of Egypt's mining sector and what advancements to expect in the coming year.