Mrima Hill in Kwale County is the focus of a competitive mineral development bid.
Mining CS Hassan Joho says Kenya expects to select a developer within three weeks, with three US-linked groups among the remaining bidders.
Two Chinese companies have withdrawn from the race to develop Kenya’s Mrima Hill mineral deposits in Kwale County. Their exit leaves five contenders pursuing the project through Mrima Hill bids, including three US-linked groups.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho confirmed the withdrawals on October 30. He said the government expects to award the multibillion-shilling project within two to three weeks.
The departing firms are Hunan Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals and Jinan Yuxiao Group Co. Ltd. Meanwhile, the remaining bidders submitted their proposals on October 21.
Five groups submit Mrima Hill bids
The field comprises two American consortia, a US-affiliated group, an Australian consortium and a Kenyan-British joint venture. They seek to develop the mineral-rich site approximately 65 kilometres from Mombasa.
One American bidder, Meridian Mineral Holdings, brings together Fluor Corp and Tetra Tech. The other, Frontier Minerals LLC, includes ReElement Technologies, while Critical Metals Corp leads the third US-linked group, Mrima Earth.
Australia’s RareX has partnered with Iluka Resources to compete for the project. The Kenyan-British joint venture Gem of Dreams completes the field of five contenders.
Joho also said Kenya had faced no pressure from Washington or Beijing over the selection. Instead, he maintained that national interests would guide the government’s decision.
The Chinese companies have also expressed interest in other Kenyan mining projects. Joho confirmed that one of the firms had submitted a separate bid.
Critical minerals draw international interest
Mrima Hill is believed to hold rare earth minerals and niobium worth tens of billions of dollars. However, the government has yet to establish the project’s economic viability.
These minerals support the manufacture of electronics, electric vehicles and aerospace equipment. Meanwhile, Washington and Beijing continue to compete for access to critical mineral resources.
US President Donald Trump’s administration wants to reduce American dependence on China, which dominates global rare earth supply chains. In June, President William Ruto said Kenya was close to signing a critical minerals agreement with the United States.
Washington subsequently pledged support for mineral processing in Kenya. China has also proposed closer mining cooperation with African countries, stressing that they should retain ownership and benefit from their resources.
