Protected areas not off-limits to sustainable mining – Egypt’s Environment Min.

Mining activities can coexist with environmental protection if managed responsibly, Egypt’s Minister of Environment Yasmin Fouad said during her keynote address at the Egypt Mining Forum 2025.

She emphasised that protecting nature does not mean halting all activity, referencing international practices that zone protected areas to allow limited, low-impact mining under strict regulation. She noted that the approach was not about closing off land but rather about managing ecosystems in a responsible and balanced way.

Fouad noted that Egypt has already adopted this approach, enabling regulated mining operations within some protected zones, stressing that the environment and mining sectors must no longer be seen as opposing forces. “We can cooperate to generate revenue and provide a better quality of life for our people,” she added.

She called for a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework to support sustainable mining throughout its lifecycle — from exploration to closure — and create an enabling environment for responsible investment.

Fouad also urged the integration of decarbonisation into mining operations, pointing to international examples where solar energy powers industrial activities. She encouraged stakeholders to embrace renewable energy solutions to cut emissions and improve efficiency.

Her final message focused on circular economy practices, highlighting Egypt’s success in reusing mining waste in cement production as a model for converting industrial by-products into valuable energy sources. “We must maximise the value of what is often discarded,” she said.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: M. S. Salama