Kenya's Mrima Hill mineral project bidding field narrows

Two Chinese companies, Hunan Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals and Jinan Yuxiao Group Co. Ltd., have withdrawn from the competition to develop the Mrima Hill mineral deposits in Kwale County, Kenya. The withdrawal leaves five remaining bidders vying for the multibillion-shilling contract.

The remaining contenders include three U.S.-linked groups: Meridian Mineral Holdings (backed by Fluor Corp and Tetra Tech), Frontier Minerals LLC (including ReElement Technologies), and Mrima Earth (led by Critical Metals Corp). Other bidders include Australia's RareX, in partnership with Iluka Resources, and a Kenyan-British joint venture named Gem of Dreams.

Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho stated that the government expects to award the contract within two to three weeks. Joho emphasized that the selection process is guided by national interests and denied receiving external pressure from either Washington or Beijing. Mrima Hill is believed to contain rare-earth minerals and niobium, which are critical for the aerospace, electric vehicle, and electronics industries.