Egypt, Chilean ENAP Sipetrol Explore Mining Cooperation for First Time

The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi met on Sunday with Chilean Ambassador to Cairo Roberto Ebert and senior officials from ENAP Sipetrol, the Chilean state-owned oil and gas company operating in Egypt. 

The meeting marked the first discussions between the two sides regarding possible collaboration in the mining sector.

During the meeting, both parties reviewed current cooperation in petroleum production from ENAP Sipetrol’s existing operations in partnership with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), particularly in the Western Desert. Discussions also touched on plans to accelerate the company’s work in the West Amer block in Egypt’s Eastern Desert, including new exploration and drilling activities in the coming years to boost production.

More notably, the meeting introduced for the first time the idea of Chile-Egypt collaboration in mining, reflecting Egypt's strategic push to attract foreign investment in this increasingly vital sector. Minister Badawi highlighted Egypt’s evolving investment climate and the country's commitment to building strong, diversified partnerships in sectors beyond oil and gas.

Badawi emphasized Egypt’s keen interest in leveraging Chile’s globally recognized expertise in mining, especially in extracting critical minerals such as lithium and copper. He pointed out that Egypt is currently focused on developing value chains for strategic minerals to support local industries and reduce import dependency, and he welcomed Chilean investment and technical know-how in this space.

The Minister also shared an overview of Egypt's national petroleum strategy, built around six core pillars, including energy diversification, increased renewable energy projects, and enhanced sustainability across the energy sector. These efforts, he noted, aim to boost local production, reduce import reliance, and support the country's financial stability.

Ebert reaffirmed Chile’s commitment to strengthening political and economic ties with Egypt. He underscored the importance of mutual cooperation to confront global challenges and unlock shared opportunities. Stressing that ENAP Sipetrol is a state-owned entity, Ebert expressed optimism that enhanced collaboration—especially in mining and energy—will bring substantial benefits to both nations.

Executives from ENAP Sipetrol also presented the company’s mining expertise, signaling strong interest in launching mining-related projects in Egypt. They expressed particular enthusiasm about partnering with Egyptian counterparts to develop lithium extraction technologies and expand into other mineral ventures.

To conclude the meeting, the Chilean Ambassador extended a formal invitation to Minister Badawi to attend Chile’s National Day celebration in Cairo, scheduled for September 17, further strengthening diplomatic and business ties between the two countries.