Egypt's Petroleum Minister Inaugurates Gold Ores Analysis Facility

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inspects the gold ores and associated minerals examination laboratory. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inspects the gold ores and associated minerals examination laboratory. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt's Petroleum Minister Inaugurates Gold Ores Analysis Facility

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inspects the gold ores and associated minerals examination laboratory. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inspects the gold ores and associated minerals examination laboratory. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inaugurated a factory specialized in preparing and analyzing samples extracted from mines at the Um Rus Mine area in Marsa Alam.

The factory would examine the gold ores and associated minerals.

El Molla stressed that the state’s interest in the development of mining activity has resulted in the attraction of world and national investments in this field.

He added that the vision to develop the mining sector – launched in 2018 – created flexibility that accelerated the companies’ operations and helped them achieve added value and returns for the national economy.

During his field visit to the area, he noted that the reforms carried out by the state seek to prepare an investment-friendly environment.

El Molla urged a quick implementation of the investments and plans in the business development and management in the concession area.

Chairman of Nubian Mining Company Issam Khorani confirmed the company’s commitment to its investments in Egypt, presenting the results of the company during the first phase of exploration as proof.

During this phase, the company spent a total of $4.5 billion and this resulted in facilities, infrastructure, geological data maps, and promising research and exploration points in the concession area.

Nubian Mining is on the right track in accelerating the exploitation of mineral wealth and increasing their return on the national economy and their role in sustainable development plans.

The minister further listened to a briefing by the Director of Research and Exploration at Nubian Mining Company, Attia Makhlouf, who noted that the company has conducted geological and structural mapping of most of the concession area and a surface survey of a number of reservoirs and wells in various locations.

He went on to say that the company is carrying out a 3D survey of the Umm al-Rus underground tunnels using the latest 3D portable scanner technologies.



Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions

Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions
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Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions

Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions

Oil prices climbed on Tuesday reversing earlier declines, as fears of tighter Russian and Iranian supply due to escalating Western sanctions lent support.

Brent futures were up 61 cents, or 0.80%, to $76.91 a barrel at 1119 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 46 cents, or 0.63%, to $74.02.

It seems market participants have started to price in some small supply disruption risks on Iranian crude exports to China, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

In China, Shandong Port Group issued a notice on Monday banning US sanctioned oil vessels from its network of ports, according to three traders, potentially restricting blacklisted vessels from major energy terminals on China's east coast.

Shandong Port Group oversees major ports on China's east coast, including Qingdao, Rizhao and Yantai, which are major terminals for importing sanctioned oil.

Meanwhile, cold weather in the US and Europe has boosted heating oil demand, providing further support for prices.

However, oil price gains were capped by global economic data.

Euro zone inflation

accelerated

in December, an unwelcome but anticipated blip that is unlikely to derail further interest rate cuts from the European Central Bank.

"Higher inflation in Germany raised suggestions that the ECB may not be able to cut rates as fast as hoped across the Eurozone, while US manufactured good orders fell in November," Ashley Kelty, an analyst at Panmure Liberum said.

Technical indicators for oil futures are now in overbought territory, and sellers are keen to step in once again to take advantage of the strength, tempering additional price advances, said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of research at Onyx Capital Group.

Market participants are waiting for more data this week, such as the US December non-farm payrolls report on Friday, for clues on US interest rate policy and the oil demand outlook.