Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The Egyptian government has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive geological survey of the country as part of a new national strategy aimed at regulating and maximizing the economic value of rare and strategic minerals, officials said.
Mohamed Al-Homsani, spokesperson for the Cabinet, said the strategy is designed to develop the rare minerals sector across its entire value chain, from extraction and geological assessment to manufacturing and value-added processing. The initiative reflects growing state interest in leveraging Egypt’s natural resources to support industrial development and strategic industries.
Speaking in a televised interview, Al-Homsani noted that rare minerals have taken on heightened importance due to their role in advanced and strategic industries, including renewable energy technologies, electronics, defense applications, and high-value manufacturing. He said the first phase of the strategy will involve a nationwide geological survey to identify Egypt’s mineral potential, determine the types of minerals available, and assess their quantities and economic feasibility.
The survey, he explained, will provide the data needed to support informed decision-making and long-term planning in the mining sector, helping the state prioritize investments and tailor industrial policies to available resources.
Al-Homsani added that the strategy also addresses downstream industrial development, noting that each mineral requires specific processing and manufacturing conditions. Removing obstacles that limit the effective use of rare minerals is a key objective, particularly where value-added production can supply raw materials for strategic industries and reduce reliance on imports.
The government’s approach, he said, encompasses all stages of mineral development, including exploration, geological evaluation, extraction, and processing. It also includes measures to create an investment-friendly environment capable of attracting foreign capital and technical expertise into the mining sector, which is viewed as a critical pillar of economic diversification.
As part of this effort, the state is prepared to offer substantial incentives to investors, Al-Homsani said. These include fast-track approvals through the so-called “golden license” for major projects, simplified administrative procedures, and improvements to the overall investment climate through tax and regulatory reforms.
Egypt has been working in recent years to modernize its mining framework, seeking to align it more closely with international best practices and position the sector as a contributor to export growth, job creation, and industrial expansion. Officials say the rare minerals strategy is intended to accelerate that process by shifting the focus from raw extraction to integrated industrial production.
The announcement comes amid intensifying global competition for access to rare and critical minerals, which have become increasingly central to supply chains for clean energy, digital technologies, and advanced manufacturing. By launching a comprehensive geological survey and offering enhanced incentives, Egypt aims to position itself as a competitive destination for mining and mineral-processing investments in the region.
