Egypt's mining and energy ambitions hinge on harnessing technical expertise and innovation, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy said Wednesday, urging deeper integration of science and engineering into the country's resource strategy. Speaking at the Egypt Mining Forum in Cairo, Minister Badawy — a former executive at a multinational technology firm — said technical teams are the unsung backbone of progress in energy and extractive industries. "... the real core behind the success of any industry, the technical part is really at the core." he said. Minister Badawy's remarks underscored the ministry's broader vision to modernise Egypt's oil, gas, and mining sectors by embedding technology across operations — from exploration and reservoir management to downstream processing and data-driven decision-making. He said Egypt's petroleum strategy is anchored on three pillars: accelerating oil and gas production with strong reservoir governance, building out infrastructure including petrochemicals and refineries, and radically transforming the mining sector. Technology, he emphasised, underpins all three. In the case of mining, which currently contributes less than 1 per cent to GDP, Minister Badawy said Egypt aims to raise that share significantly through smarter, more efficient operations. "And when we look at the mining sector, it is a sector that we have great hopes for in Egypt." Minister Badawy said. "... We're firm believers that there's so much more that can be unlocked from the mining sector in Egypt and that we really want to take it to 5 % or 6%," That cannot be done without world-class technical capability, he said. The minister also praised the role of technical sessions at the forum and said he would ensure the findings are reviewed and implemented where relevant. It's not enough to meet and present — there is necessity to apply the insights, adopt best practices, and use technology to solve real challenges. He encouraged participants to continue sharing their work and said he was open to one-on-one sessions in the coming months. Looking ahead, Minister Badawy committed to making technical talent a central part of Egypt's development model. Egypt does not just need resources — it also needs the minds and tools to extract their full value, he said. Reporting: Aya Anwar Writing: Y.Yasser Subediting: Y.Yasser
