Petroleum Minister Osama Kamal met with Aswan Governor Mostafa el-Sayed and tribes' heads to seek legalizing the random search and mining of gold in the Eastern Desert.

During the meeting, Kamal said the government established Shalateen mineral wealth company in late November to legalize random gold search in Upper Egypt and start mining in the Eastern Desert in Shalateen and the Red Sea.

The minister asked chairman of Shalateen Company Fekri Youssef to appoint Aswan residents in the new company and prepare search maps in those areas.

At the end of the meeting, the minister ordered the formation of a team to be made up of representatives of Shalateen Company and Aswan tribes to set a legal framework for coordination with tribes in mining operations within two weeks.