Spanish company wins Egypt deal for drone mining survey

• Xcalibur smart mapping contract
• First aerial survey for 42 years
• Covers six mineral-rich regions

Egypt has awarded a contract to Spain’s Xcalibur smart mapping company for a landmark survey of its mineral wealth involving the deployment of drones.

The geophysical survey is the first of its kind in Egypt in nearly 42 years and it covers six potentially mineral rich regions including southern and northern parts of the Eastern Desert, Sinai, the northern and southern parts of the Western Desert, as well as the Bahariya and Abu Tartur oases in the New Valley.

Petroleum and mineral resources minister Karim Badawi oversaw the signing of the contract between the Spanish company and the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA) in Cairo on Sunday, according to a ministry statement.

Egypt’s Drone Tech will supply drones for the massive survey that is designed to accelerate the country’s mineral wealth and woo investors.

“This project represents the first comprehensive aerial survey of mining to be conducted in Egypt in 42 years… it will provide a modern and highly accurate database on mineral resources in Egypt, contributing to the development of attractive investment opportunities for investors in mineral exploration and prospecting,” Badawi said.

He added that the availability of this data will contribute to reducing the costs and risks of exploration and prospecting, thereby enhancing the confidence of national and international companies in investing in the mining sector.

Egypt aims to increase mining’s contribution to gross domestic product to nearly 6 percent, from less than 1 percent, the minister said in April.

In December last year, the ministry said there is a plan to launch Egypt’s first online mining portal that will give investors access to projects in the mining sector.

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The online gateway, which has been planned for more than two years, will be officially launched during 2026, the ministry said, adding that the plan is within a package of incentives to investors and metal prospectors to undertake projects offered by the ministry in various areas.

The planned portal includes maps and data for investors seeking to start minerals projects. It will cover 27 metals, including gold, zinc and iron, the ministry said, adding that Egypt is rapidly becoming a key metal producer and exporter.

In 2023, Egypt’s metal production stood at about 13 million tonnes and exports exceeded 2.3 million tonnes, according to the ministry.