The Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA) launched an Open Blocks System offering exploration and exploitation opportunities across several mineral commodities. The bid round targets gold and associated minerals, phosphate, talc, and kaolin.
The offering officially commenced on Wednesday, June 10, at 12:00 PM Cairo time. The Open Blocks System allows companies to apply for mineral exploration blocks at any time, without waiting for a fixed bid round closing date. Once the first offer is submitted for a block, a 30‑day competitive window opens for other bidders. Blocks that attract no bids will remain open to investors, with the authority planning to introduce additional blocks in succession.
The maps released by the authority outline a highly precise geographical distribution of the open blocks based on resource potential. The exploration blocks for gold and associated minerals cover an extensive grid across the Arabian-Nubian Shield in the Eastern Desert, stretching directly parallel to the Red Sea coast and encompassing areas near Hurghada, Safaga, El Quseir, Marsa Alam, and Bernice. Concurrently, blocks dedicated to phosphate exploitation are strategically clustered along the Red Sea coastal strip between Safaga and El Quseir, specifically near Hamrawein, alongside major interior deposits in the Nile Valley and Abu Tartour in the New Valley Governorate. Additionally, specific concessions designated for other industrial minerals place talc exploration blocks near Marsa Alam. In contrast, kaolin blocks are mapped in West-Central Sinai near Abu Zenima and southwest of Aswan in Wadi Kalabsha.
According to the authority’s guidelines, bidding preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate localized value-added processing, aligning with state decrees aimed at maximizing the economic value of Egyptian mineral ores. Furthermore, winning companies may expand their operations to explore for other minerals within their assigned sectors, subject to official regulatory approval.
Interested companies can purchase the terms and conditions files directly from the authority’s main headquarters.
