Turkish firm OZ Mining is set to begin gold exploration studies in Egypt’s Eastern Desert as Cairo expands its mining and energy cooperation with Turkey and Azerbaijan, officials said.
The development was announced during meetings between Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, and his Turkish and Azerbaijani counterparts on the sidelines of Baku Energy Week.
The talks with Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in oil, natural gas and mining, including efforts to attract new Turkish investment into Egypt’s mineral resources sector.
Officials said OZ Mining has begun preliminary exploration work targeting gold deposits in Egypt’s mineral-rich Eastern Desert, a key area for the country’s mining expansion strategy.
The two sides also discussed exchanging technical expertise and modern mining technologies aimed at improving extraction efficiency and adding value to Egypt’s natural resources.
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Egypt has been actively seeking to boost foreign investment in its mining sector as part of wider efforts to diversify its resource base and increase revenues from gold and other minerals.
Badawi and Bayraktar also emphasised the importance of enhancing regional energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, citing the strategic location and infrastructure of both countries as key advantages for future integration in energy markets.
As part of the engagement, Egypt invited Turkish mining companies to attend the upcoming expanded Egypt Mining Forum in the New Administrative Capital in September, which is expected to attract international investors and industry stakeholders.
Separately, Egyptian officials held talks with a delegation from Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR), led by Vice President Elshad Nassirov, to advance a long-term energy cooperation framework.
The discussions aimed at operationalising a strategic agreement between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and SOCAR, signed earlier during the Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES 2026) in Cairo.
Egyptian authorities highlighted the country’s refining capacity, storage infrastructure and domestic market size as key attractions for Azerbaijani investment in oil and gas exploration and production.
Officials said the partnership reflects broader political support for closer ties between Cairo and Baku, backed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
The meetings took place during Badawi’s participation in Baku Energy Week, a three-day event bringing together representatives from 44 countries, the European Union, investors and major international energy companies.
The forum is aimed at strengthening global cooperation in energy security, investment and clean energy transition projects.
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Egypt continues to position itself as a regional energy hub, leveraging its infrastructure in refining, trading and re-exporting, while also expanding its role in mining exploration partnerships with foreign investors.
Analysts say the country’s simultaneous push into hydrocarbons and minerals reflects a broader strategy to diversify revenue sources and attract foreign capital amid global energy market volatility.
