2024 STRATEGIC CONFERENCE

The mining sector in Egypt has been a cornerstone of the country’s economy for centuries and is an integral part of its rich history. In recent years, the government has taken significant steps to revitalise the industry, recognising its potential to drive economic growth and development. 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 new mining portal to provide potential investors with accessible data.

Attendee Insights
This Ministerial keynote speech will highlight Egypt’s vision to become the world’s next big mining destination.

For three decades, Centamin has been creating long-term value in Egypt, beginning with the discovery of its flagship asset, the Sukari gold mine—the country’s first large-scale commercial mine. Today, Sukari is a key contributor to Egypt’s economy, employing over 4,000 people, 96% of whom are Egyptian. It has produced 5.2 million ounces of gold since its inception, generating estimated revenues of $7.5 billion, and is powered impart by renewable energy. The company’s success is a testament to the country's excellent operating jurisdiction, stable political environment, high quality domestic workforce and robust infrastructure network. Alongside its operations of Sukari, Centamin continues its partnership with the Egyptian government, local communities, and local businesses to develop a thriving ecosystem and advance the modernisation of Egypt’s mining industry.

Attendee Insights
In this keynote speech, Centamin’s CEO will share the company’s journey in Egypt, highlighting their vision and commitment to grow the country’s mining industry.

The potential for mineral exploration and development in the Arabian Nubian Shield is limitless, untapped, and largely undiscovered. The Shield, known for its rich deposits of gold, copper, and other valuable minerals, presents enormous opportunities for global investors. Egypt and Jordan, two countries that make up the Arabian Nubian Shield, have begun to open up their land to foreign exploration and mining companies in order to support and develop the region's unexplored and underdeveloped mineral resources. The region's strategic location as a gateway between Africa and the Middle East, combined with supportive government policies, increases its appeal and positions it as a promising frontier for global investors seeking commercial opportunities. However, challenges such as regulations and infrastructure must be addressed before the ANS can become the next major exploration target.

Attendee Insights :
This leadership panel delves into the Arabian-Nubian Shield's untapped potential, as well as the regulations, policies, and investments required to make the region the next big target for mineral exploration.

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.

Mining projects are known for their high risk, long lifecycle, and significant capital requirements. Fiscal models and commercial agreements are fundamental in shaping the financial and operational landscape of mining projects from the exploration stage through to exploitation. The successful transformation of a country’s mining sector requires a holistic approach that integrates robust fiscal models, comprehensive commercial agreements, effective financial infrastructure that attracts capital markets. For investors, a well-structured fiscal model balances attractive investment conditions with fair revenue distribution and compliance with regulatory standards. Agreements such as Taxation, royalties, profit-sharing agreements, and investment incentives are critical to attracting investors while assuring equitable revenue for mining companies, governments, and other stakeholders.

Attendee Insights :

Panellists will explore the interplay between robust fiscal models, comprehensive commercial agreements, and the strategies needed to build financial infrastructure for a thriving mining sector.

The mining sector has yet to make a significant contribution to Egypt's GDP, but it has significant potential for economic diversification and growth, with the government recognising the need to tap into its untapped mineral resources to generate new revenue streams. The new Egyptian government, in particular, has prioritised increased investment in the mining sector. This includes not only legislative and regulatory reforms, but also the development of a green mining value chain based on environmentally friendly practices. By addressing key challenges and creating a more investor-friendly environment, the new government intends to boost investor confidence, unlock the sector's potential, and drive economic growth.

Attendee insights: A vital ministerial panel which explores the role of the new Egyptian government to revitalise and prioritise the mining sector as a key driver for economic diversification.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 on the future of Egypt's mining sector following the cabinet reshuffle.