Egypt to Launch Nationwide Aerial Survey for Mineral Exploration

Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources is advancing plans to modernize its geological data infrastructure as part of a broader strategy to unlock the country’s vast untapped mineral wealth and boost the mining sector’s contribution to GDP.

In a high-level meeting held Friday at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Alamein government district, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi met with representatives from Argas, Metatek, Excalibur, and Novia companies specializing in aerial and seismic survey technologies to discuss cooperation on a nationwide mineral exploration project.

The initiative falls under the ministry’s third strategic pillar, aimed at increasing mining’s share in Egypt’s GDP from less than 1% to between 5–6%, by maximizing the added value of the country’s mineral resources.

According to the ministry, the project will involve comprehensive aerial surveys and seismic imaging across Egypt’s territory, creating an integrated national geological database to be made accessible to both domestic and international investors.

“The global interest in Egypt’s mining sector continues to rise, driven by sweeping regulatory and structural reforms,” Minister Badawi said. “We now have a supportive investment climate — backed by a modern legal framework, robust infrastructure, energy availability, and enhanced institutional capabilities.”

Key reforms include the conversion of the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority into an economic authority, and the overhaul of mining concession frameworks to align with international best practices.

During the meeting, the companies shared case studies of mineral exploration projects in other countries, highlighting how modern survey and data analysis methods can lead to significant discoveries and investment inflows.

Badawi stressed the strategic importance of accurate geophysical data in identifying promising mining zones and instructed the companies to develop a comprehensive, actionable plan, complete with short-, medium-, and long-term timelines and prioritized target areas for survey operations.

The meeting was attended by senior government and industry figures, including Salah Abdel Karim, CEO of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC); Yasser Ramadan, head of the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA); and senior legal, technical, and aviation officials from the ministry and its affiliates.

The proposed aerial survey is seen as a cornerstone of Egypt’s bid to position itself as a regional mining hub, capitalizing on its geological diversity and strategic location connecting Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.