East African nations eye domestic processing of rare earth minerals

East African nations are increasingly positioned as strategic players in the global rare earth supply chain as international interest grows in securing mineral sources outside of China.

In Uganda, the Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths Project is undergoing a strategic review by Ionic Rare Earths, which holds a 60 per cent stake in Rwenzori Rare Metals. The deposit contains critical elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, which are essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense technologies. While mixed rare earth carbonate has been produced at a demonstration plant in Uganda, there is a push for the government to leverage this interest to secure commitments for local processing, skills development, and procurement under the Mining and Minerals Act 2022.

Similarly, Kenya has initiated a bidding process for the development of Mrima Hill. A key condition of these developments is the requirement for domestic mineral processing. To ensure long-term economic sustainability, experts suggest that bidders must demonstrate not just laboratory success, but the ability to maintain consistent, economic output and high recovery rates in a commercial-scale plant.