Chairperson of the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA), Yasser Ramadan, met with representatives from SLB (formerly Schlumberger) to explore potential collaboration in lithium extraction and critical minerals, marking a significant step toward strengthening Egypt’s mining sector.
The discussions took place on the sidelines of the EGYPES 2025 conference in Cairo, with the SLB delegation led by Strategic Programme Manager Kamel El-Khouly and Nicolas Louganskii. The meeting focused on the strategic importance of lithium extraction, particularly as global demand for the metal continues to rise amid the clean energy transition and the increasing adoption of electric vehicles.
El-Khouly expressed SLB’s strong interest in partnering with EMRA to leverage its expertise in mineral exploration and resource development. Louganskii highlighted the company’s advances in lithium extraction, specifically its development of an integrated solution using direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology. According to SLB, this innovative approach enables a faster and more efficient recovery of lithium from brine compared to traditional methods, which often require extensive processing times and large evaporation ponds.
Ramadan reaffirmed EMRA’s commitment to advancing Egypt’s critical minerals sector and welcomed collaboration with SLB, citing the company’s technological expertise and its potential to contribute to Egypt’s mineral resource development. He emphasized that EMRA is prioritizing research into lithium deposits across the country, aiming to assess their commercial viability.
The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to explore the possibility of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between EMRA and SLB. The agreement would also involve cooperation with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and the South Valley Egyptian Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope) to conduct feasibility studies and assess lithium resource potential in Egypt.
Egypt has been taking steps to expand its mining sector as part of its broader economic diversification strategy, with lithium and other critical minerals playing a crucial role in the country’s ambitions to become a key player in the global battery supply chain.