London: Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy held discussions with Managing Director and Vice Chair of Sukari Gold Mines Company Hoda Mansour and a representative of global mining giant AngloGold Ashanti to explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation and increasing the company's investments in Egypt.

According to State Information Service Egypt, AngloGold Ashanti has obtained two additional exploration and mining licenses for gold in the Eastern Desert alongside its ongoing work in developing the Sukari Gold Mine. The meeting, held in London on the sidelines of the Egyptian-British Mining Business Mission, highlighted the ministry's full support for the company's efforts, especially in boosting gold production from the Sukari Mine in line with discussions held recently between the prime minister and company officials.

Both sides also discussed ways to accelerate gold exploration activities in the company's newly licensed areas, under the updated gold and mineral exploitation agreement model, designed to align with internationally competitive investment frameworks. This model aims to position Egypt as a more attractive destination for large-scale mining investments.

Talks further covered potential collaboration in training and capacity building for Egyptian geologists and mining engineers through joint training programs at AngloGold Ashanti's global sites. They also explored cooperation in occupational safety, health, environmental protection, and adopting the company's best practices, especially given AngloGold Ashanti's role as a strategic partner to Egypt's mining sector.