The Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA) and Canada’s Aton Mining Inc. have initialled an amended draft for the Abu Marawat concession agreement. This update to the Eastern Desert gold project is a key step toward finalizing legislative requirements and boosting investment. With a commercial discovery already confirmed, the project is now moving closer to the development and exploitation phase.
Under the agreement, the company was awarded an exploitation contract covering more than 57 square kilometers (km²) in the Hamama West and Rodruin areas within the Abu Marawat region. Additionally, an area of 255.04 km² was designated as a retention area in the Abu Marwat and South Safaga regions.
Exploitation activities will be carried out by Abu Marawat Gold Mines Company, a joint venture established between MRMIA and Aton Mining, in line with international best practices.
The agreement was signed by Yasser Ramadan, Chairman of MRMIA; Mohamed El Bagoury, Supervisor of the Central Administration for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Petroleum; and Cherif Barakat, General Manager and Country Manager of Aton Mining Inc.
Attending the ceremony,Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, pointed out that Egypt’s Mining Sector is moving in the right direction, given the ongoing development of the industry’s regulatory framework. He asserted on the Ministry’s commitment to coordinating with all state institutions to facilitate investors’ operations in the Mining Sector.
The ministry intensified its efforts to transform the mining sector and expand its contribution to the country’s GDP. This started with the decision to turn the mineral resources authority to an economic entity to streamline mining operations, as well as the amendment of the Mineral Resources Law. Throughout 2025, Badawi visited the UAE, Oman, Australia, UK to strengthen mining cooperation and expand investment opportunities with mining companies, financial institutions, and universities.
He revealed in November an incentives package aimed to encourage small and mid‑sized mining companies to undertake mineral exploration activities. The package includes reduced annual fees during early exploration stages, tax and customs exemptions for exploration equipment and supplies. It also includes the issuance of a single license for searching multiple minerals instead of several licenses. The incentives also introduce fast-track, low-cost reconnaissance licenses tailored for startup mining companies.
