Egypt assesses minerals for local processing to cut import dependence – minister

Egypt is assessing minerals extracted in the country for their potential to be processed locally, as the government seeks to build integrated mining-to-manufacturing value chains and reduce reliance on imported industrial inputs, Industry Minister Khaled Hashem said Monday.

The government is reviewing mineral output to identify opportunities for local processing and increase the value of Egyptian minerals by turning them into raw materials for domestic industries, Hashem said during a panel at the fifth Egypt Mining Forum.

Egypt is seeking to link mineral extraction with processing, refining, and mineral-based manufacturing by aligning mining and industrial policies, he said.

The approach aims to support higher-value industries, strengthen local and regional supply chains, reduce dependence on imported inputs, and create new export opportunities, Hashem said.

“We are seeking to deal with mineral resources not as basic commodities, but as raw materials for integrated industries,” he said.

The government has prioritised processing phosphate locally rather than exporting it in raw form, focusing on higher-value products such as phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilisers, Hashem said.

Manganese ore is another area targeted for local processing because it is an important input for steel and other heavy industries, he said.

Egypt is working with two companies this year to process manganese ore locally, producing higher-concentration material while seeking to boost exports, create jobs, and deepen domestic supply chains, Hashem said.

Local manganese processing could also help reduce Egypt’s import bill for refractory materials and silicon-manganese alloys, he said.

Africa trade

Hashem also called for greater integration among African countries in mining and mineral-based manufacturing, saying intra-African trade of about $220 billion remained modest given the continent’s 54 countries, resources, and consumer demand.

African countries should combine their capabilities in workforce training, expertise, technology, mineral resources, and manufacturing capacity to produce mineral-based goods for markets across the continent, he said.

The approach would be highlighted at the Africa El Alamein Forum, which Egypt is scheduled to host at the beginning of next month, Hashem said.

Hashem was speaking during a panel titled “Aligning Mineral Resource Development with Industrial Growth” on the sidelines of the Egypt Mining Forum.

The panel also included Tunisia’s Minister of Equipment and Housing and acting Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Slah Zouari; and Jéthro Muyombi Tshimbu, President of the Sub-Commission in charge of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.