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Egypt Launches First Aerial Mineral Survey in Decades as Part of Major Mining Sector Overhaul

July 18, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

In a landmark move signalling a new era for Egypt’s mining sector, the Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA) is set to initiate aerial surveys for mineral exploration — the first such initiative in decades. The announcement was made by Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi during the closing session of the Egypt Mining Forum held in Cairo.

This aerial survey marks one of the authority’s first major undertakings following significant legislative reforms. Egypt’s parliament recently approved amendments to Law No. 198 of 2014, transforming MRMIA from a service-based body into an independent economic entity. This restructuring is aimed at strengthening the authority’s operational capacity, enhancing investor confidence, and unlocking the country’s untapped mineral wealth.

Minister Badawi stated that the newly restructured MRMIA is now equipped with the tools and autonomy necessary to conduct advanced aerial geological surveys and analyze comprehensive data sets. These capabilities are essential for attracting new investments into the sector and aligning Egypt’s practices with leading global mining standards.

“The updated authority embodies a forward-looking operational framework that adheres to international benchmarks,” Badawi said. “We are prioritizing rapid reforms, streamlining administrative procedures, and fostering an investment-friendly environment to drive real progress.”

Earlier in the forum, Mohamed Ismail, a member of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in the Egyptian Parliament, highlighted that a recent legislative review of the 2014 mining law revealed it had fallen short of boosting the mining sector’s contribution to Egypt’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A key shortfall identified was the authority’s lack of financial independence, which hindered its ability to initiate and sustain long-term strategic projects.

To address this, the amended law ensures broader governance through the inclusion of key stakeholders in the authority’s Board of Directors. This includes representatives from the Ministries of Environment, Finance, and Defense, enabling the swift initiation and execution of mining-related projects.

Mohamed El Sallab, Chairman of the Egyptian Parliament’s Industrial Committee, underscored the urgent need to modernize geological and economic databases. He emphasized that reliable data is crucial for encouraging industrial-scale investments, particularly in downstream projects that transform raw minerals into high-value finished goods.

According to El Sallab, with proper implementation of reforms and a modernized investment framework, the mining sector could boost its contribution to Egypt’s GDP from its current minimal level to 5% within three years, and potentially to 10% in the long term. He also stressed that the amended law empowers MRMIA to build meaningful investment partnerships and promote domestic mineral processing industries, reducing the reliance on exporting raw materials and re-importing processed products at higher costs. This ambitious transformation plan positions Egypt to become a competitive mining hub in the region by leveraging its vast untapped resources and modernizing its regulatory and operational structures.