Egypt Discovered Gold Deposit in the Eastern Desert

Egypt announced discovery of a gold deposit in its eastern desert. Egypt Petroleum Ministry stated that the deposit has estimated resources over 1 million ounces of gold and a high extraction potential of 95 percent.

The ministry said the deposit was discovered in the concession area of the state-owned Shalateen Mineral Resources Company, which is setting investments at more than $1 billion over the next 10 years.

The Ministry commented: “The discovery is the result of exclusive Egyptian investment into gold exploration and exploitation through Shalateen Mineral Resources Co and a successful partnership between a number of the state’s sectors, including the Egyptian Mineral Resource Authority (EMRA), the military-owned National Service Products Organisation (NSPO), the National Investment Bank (NIB), and the Egyptian Company for Mineral Resources.” 

According to the ministry a joint venture between Shalateen Co and EMRA will be established to conduct exploration. The joint venture will be the third company operating in the country to extract gold and minerals after the Sukari Gold Mining Company and Hammash Misr For Gold Mines.

The discovery comes amid a plan by the petroleum ministry to boost the sector to raise its contribution to domestic product, the ministry said, adding that a second phase of the plan will be implemented after the conclusion of the first phase, which is running from 2018 till the end of 2021.

Looking to attract foreign direct investments, Egypt aims to obtain $375 million investment to the mining indusry in the next two years, increasing the forecast for direct investments from $700 million to $1 billion by 2030.

Egypt has said it will extend a deadline on bids for its international tender for gold exploration in the Eastern Desert until 15 September, after the round of bidding announced last March was interrupted by the coronavirus crisis.