Egypt has signaled its intention to deepen continental mining cooperation through anticipated participation in African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, following high-level talks with Energy Capital & Power (ECP).
A delegation from Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources met with ECP representatives on Sunday to discuss the country’s involvement in the upcoming event, which is scheduled for October 14–16, 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
The delegation was led by Yasser Ramadan, Chairman of the Egyptian Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA), and included senior officials from the ministry’s technical and energy efficiency departments. Discussions focused on Egypt’s prospective participation at AMW 2026, its previous engagement at the 2025 edition, interest in 2027, and the potential to host a future installment of the event.
AMW is positioned as a continental platform bringing together African mining jurisdictions and global investors to promote partnerships, investment opportunities and policy dialogue across the sector.
Reform Agenda and Investment Drive
During the meeting, Egyptian officials highlighted the country’s mineral wealth and ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing its attractiveness to investors. Egypt’s Eastern Desert and Sinai Peninsula host significant reserves, including more than nine million ounces of gold, approximately 660 million tons of iron oxides, as well as phosphates, copper, high-purity silica sand and coal.
Officials also outlined plans to launch a digital mining cadastre in the second quarter of 2026. The platform is expected to streamline licensing procedures, reduce administrative bottlenecks and accelerate permitting timelines for investors.
In addition to domestic reforms, the delegation referenced ongoing cooperation discussions with Ghana and Nigeria aimed at strengthening intra-African collaboration in the mining sector, suggesting AMW could serve as a vehicle for advancing those efforts.
Focus on Beneficiation
James Chester, CEO of Energy Capital & Power, said Egypt’s progress in mineral processing and beneficiation presents opportunities for deeper regional collaboration.
“Egypt is making significant progress in mineral processing and beneficiation. The country has a strong mining foundation, and AMW may presents an important opportunity to deepen cooperation with other African players,” he said.
Rachelle Kasongo, Event Director of AMW, also pointed to the event’s alignment with Egypt’s mineral value-add strategy, particularly following the country’s gold value chain financing agreement signed in late 2025 with the African Export-Import Bank.
Held under the theme Mining the Future: Unearthing Africa’s Full Mineral Value, AMW 2026 is expected to feature high-level panel discussions, project showcases and investor networking sessions focused on strengthening Africa’s role in global commodity supply chains.
Organizers describe the gathering as a key platform for connecting regulators, mining operators and international capital as African countries push to maximize value from their mineral resources.
