Key facts
- Fluor Corp and Tetra Tech are part of Meridian Mineral Holdings, a US consortium bidding for the Mrima Hill deposit.
- Frontier Minerals LLC, including ReElement Technologies, is another US consortium in contention.
- Mrima Earth, a US-affiliated consortium led by Critical Metals Corp, is also on the shortlist.
- A Kenyan-British joint venture, Gem of Dreams, and Australia's RareX in tie-up with Iluka Resources also submitted tenders.
- The Mrima Hill deposit is estimated to contain tens of billions of dollars worth of rare earth minerals and niobium.
Fluor Corp is among several US investors competing to develop Kenya's Mrima Hill critical minerals deposit, according to Mining Minister Hassan Ali Joho. Two Chinese companies, Hunan Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals and Jinan Yuxiao Group Co. Ltd., withdrew from the bidding process. Joho stated that a decision on the successful bidder would be announced within three weeks. The Mrima Hill deposit, located near Mombasa, is believed to contain significant quantities of rare earth minerals and niobium. The US government, under President Donald Trump, has prioritized securing access to critical minerals to reduce dependence on China. Kenya aims to process more of its mineral resources domestically, with US companies demonstrating interest in developing this sector.