Kenya's Ministry of Mining has formally launched a search for investors to develop a massive rare earth and niobium deposit, estimated to be worth $62 billion. In a gazette notice dated March 24, 2026, Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho invited qualified firms to submit expressions of interest to commercialize the resources at the Mrima Hill site in Kwale County.
The minerals, which include niobium and rare earth elements, are critical for manufacturing advanced electronics, electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and defense systems. The development of this resource is seen as strategically important, with both the United States and China having shown prior interest in securing supplies of these critical minerals.
The Kenyan government's move is part of a broader strategy to leverage its mineral wealth for economic development. The successful bidder will be expected to undertake exploration, feasibility studies, and ultimately the construction of mining and processing facilities. The project's scale places it among the world's most significant undeveloped rare earth deposits.
