Egypt and Türkiye are set to strengthen mining sector cooperation. Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, met Alparslan Bayraktar, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, in Istanbul to discuss cooperation opportunities in the mining and energy sectors between the two countries, according to a statement by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR).
This meeting builds on previous engagements between officials from Egyptian Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA) and Türkiye’s OZ Minerals Company, as well as the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries in May 2025.
The meeting included a proposal to establish joint working groups from both sides to explore opportunities for deepening cooperation in mineral research and exploration. This would involve exchanging expertise on regulatory frameworks, licensing systems, and geological survey technologies, while simultaneously examining investment prospects to maximize the added value of mineral resources.
This came as part of Badawi’s visit to Istanbul to represent Egypt at the Organization for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD) Critical Minerals Forum, held April 28–29. The forum examines how nations can collaborate to build resilient supply chains for critical minerals while enabling resource‑rich countries to boost local value creation and diversify their economies.
The meeting also addressed opportunities for cooperation in the fields of energy and gas in the Eastern Mediterranean and ways to make optimal use of the infrastructure available in both countries. This would contribute to strengthening energy security and enhancing regional integration, particularly given the strategic geographic position of both Egypt and Türkiye.
The two ministers exchanged views on energy transition, hydrogen production, and low‑carbon energy solutions in support of implementing transformation strategies in both countries. They further discussed energy efficiency policies and sustainable development within the framework of Egypt’s Vision 2030 and Türkiye’s energy roadmap. The meeting underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between private‑sector entities in both nations to carry out joint projects in the mining and energy fields.
On the sidelines of the Forum, Badawi also held a series of meetings with several Turkish companies to discuss cooperation opportunities in the mining sector, facilitating the attraction of Turkish investments into Egypt’s mining industry and exchanging technical expertise and best practices in light of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to develop the mining sector. The meetings included one with Taner Yılmaz, OZ Minerals, and one with Semih Demircan, Operations Director at Tuprag Mining.
Badawi further met Alper Çelebi, General Manager of Sanko Enerji, a renewable energy company, to review Egypt’s plans to expand renewable energy projects and accelerate the goal of generating 42% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
