Egypt is working to develop integrated value chains across its mining sector, linking mineral extraction with processing, refining, and mineral-based manufacturing to increase the added value of its natural resources and support industrial growth, Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem said.
Speaking at a panel titled “Aligning Mineral Resource Development with Industrial Growth” on the sidelines of the fifth edition of the Egypt Mining Forum, Hashem said Egypt had taken a number of steps in recent years to advance mining and mineral-based industries, particularly through the launch of the country’s industrial strategy, which identified key minerals as strategic industries.
The minister said the government is currently assessing minerals extracted in Egypt to determine their suitability for local manufacturing and improve mineral processing value chains.
The objective is to increase the added value of Egyptian minerals and transform them into raw materials that can support the industrial sector, he added.
Hashem said the government also aims to align mining and industrial policies to create integrated value chains connecting extraction, processing, refining, and mineral-based manufacturing.
“This approach will help utilise mineral resources to support higher-value-added industries, strengthen local and regional supply chains, reduce reliance on imported inputs, and create new export opportunities,” Hashem said.
He said the government is moving towards treating mineral resources not merely as commodities but as raw materials for integrated industries, with the aim of connecting Egyptian manufacturing to regional and global value chains.
Hashem explained that phosphate is among the key minerals targeted for greater local processing.
Egypt has taken steps to limit exports of raw phosphate while prioritising higher-value-added downstream industries, particularly phosphoric acid and phosphate fertiliser production, he said.
He also highlighted the importance of Egyptian manganese ore as a key input for the iron and steel and heavy industries.
Local processing of manganese could help maximise the value derived from Egypt’s mineral resources while reducing reliance on imported refractory materials and silicon-manganese alloys, Hashem said.
He noted that the government had cooperated this year with two companies to process manganese ore locally, with the aim of producing higher-concentration material, increasing exports, creating jobs, and deepening domestic supply chains.
Turning to cooperation with Africa, Hashem said intra-African trade stands at around $220bn, describing the figure as modest relative to the continent’s 54 countries, natural resources, production capabilities, domestic demand, and imports from global markets.
He stressed the need for greater integration among African countries in the mining sector, with countries contributing through workforce training, technical expertise, skills, technology, mineral resources, and manufacturing capabilities.
Such cooperation could support the production of mineral-based products serving markets across Africa, he said.
Hashem added that this approach would be among the objectives highlighted at the Africa El Alamein Forum, which Egypt is scheduled to host at the beginning of next month.
