Science stories from Africa Now showing
OngoingDraft · awaiting verification

Sukari Gold Mine

Egypt's first and only modern large-scale gold mine, producing over 400,000 ounces annually in the Eastern Desert.

Explainer film in production
§ 01About the project

Sukari is Egypt's first large-scale modern gold mine, located in the Eastern Desert approximately 700 km south of Cairo and 25 km from the Red Sea coast. It is operated by Centamin plc under a 50/50 profit-sharing agreement with the Egyptian Mineral Resource Authority (EMRA). The mine comprises a large open pit, an expanding underground operation, and a 12.5 Mtpa processing plant. Sukari produced approximately 450,000 ounces of gold in 2023 and has cumulative production exceeding 5 million ounces since commencing operations in 2009.

§ 02What it aims to do
  1. 01Produce approximately 450,000-500,000 ounces of gold annually
  2. 02Expand underground mining to sustain production as the open pit matures
  3. 03Extend mine life beyond 2035 through exploration success and resource conversion
  4. 04Optimize the 12.5 Mtpa processing plant for maximum gold recovery
  5. 05Maintain Sukari as the sole large-scale gold mine in Egypt
  6. 06Invest in renewable energy to reduce the mine's carbon footprint
§ 03Milestones
  1. 2009 · completed

    First Gold Pour

    Sukari achieved its first gold pour in June 2009, marking Egypt's entry into modern gold mining.

  2. 2014 · completed

    Underground Mining Start

    Underground mining commenced from the Amun and Cleopatra deposits beneath the open pit.

  3. 2019 · completed

    Processing Expansion

    The processing plant was expanded to 12.5 Mtpa through the addition of new grinding capacity.

  4. 2022 · completed

    Solar Plant Commissioning

    A 36 MW solar plant was commissioned, making Sukari one of the first solar-powered gold mines in Africa.

  5. 2023 · completed

    Cumulative 5 Million Ounces

    Sukari surpassed 5 million cumulative ounces of gold production since inception.

  6. 2025 · in progress

    Underground Expansion

    Ongoing expansion of the underground mine to increase its proportion of total ore feed.

§ 04Engineering & resources

Mineral Resource

Gold Mineral Resource

Measured and indicated mineral resource of approximately 12.2 million ounces of gold.

Processing Plant

Processing Plant

A 12.5 Mtpa plant with gravity, flotation, and CIL circuits recovering gold from both oxide and sulphide ores.

Mining Infrastructure

Open Pit

Large-scale open pit over 1 km wide with bench mining extending to depth.

Mining Infrastructure

Underground Mine

Growing underground operation accessing the Amun, Cleopatra, and Ptah zones beneath the pit.

Energy Infrastructure

Solar Power Plant

36 MW solar PV plant reducing diesel consumption and carbon emissions.

  • Large-scale open-pit drill, blast, and haul mining
  • Underground longhole stoping and development mining
  • Gravity separation and carbon-in-leach (CIL) gold recovery
  • Flotation circuit for sulphide gold concentrate
  • 36 MW solar photovoltaic power plant
  • Autonomous drill rigs for open-pit blast hole drilling

What it means for the community

Sukari employs over 4,500 people directly and indirectly, with the vast majority being Egyptian nationals. Under the profit-sharing agreement, Egypt receives 50% of net profits plus royalties, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to the national economy. The mine has catalyzed renewed interest in Egypt's mineral potential, with the government launching new mining investment frameworks to attract further exploration and development across the Eastern Desert.

§ 05Articles

No articles on this project yet. Subscribe to the newsletter to hear when one is published.

§ 06Partners & owners
  • Centamin plc (50% profit share)
  • EMRA/Government of Egypt (50% profit share)