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BackAmerican and Chinese bidders compete for rights to develop sacred Kenyan forest rich in rare earths and niobium
American and Chinese bidders compete for rights to develop sacred Kenyan forest rich in rare earths and niobium
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SCMP News40 minutes agoBusiness1 min readChina

American and Chinese bidders compete for rights to develop sacred Kenyan forest rich in rare earths and niobium

mrima hillrare earthsniobium

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US and Chinese bidders are competing for development rights to Mrima Hill, a sacred Kenyan forest rich in rare earths and niobium, as part of the broader US-China rivalry for critical minerals, with US officials offering support for Kenya's domestic processing industry.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The US-China rivalry for critical minerals has intensified as both nations seek to secure supply chains for advanced technologies and defense applications. Rare earths and niobium are essential for electronics, renewable energy systems, and high-strength alloys.

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American and Chinese bidders are vying for rights to develop a sacred Kenyan forest rich in rare earths and niobium

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Published: 12:00pm, 27 Sep 2026

Mrima Hill, a sacred site about 65km (40 miles) southwest of Mombasa on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, is emerging as a new front in the US-China rivalry for critical minerals.

US-led and Chinese bidders are competing for rights to develop the site, which is rich in rare earths and niobium, a metal used to make steel stronger and lighter.

American officials have offered to support Kenya’s development of its domestic critical minerals processing industry as Washington seeks to challenge Beijing’s dominance of global rare earth refining.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Kenyan President William Ruto on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last week. They discussed how Kenya’s critical minerals resources could “position the country as a key player in the sector while presenting opportunities for US firms to provide value addition”.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • Kenya will grant development rights to either a US-led or Chinese consortium for Mrima Hill within the next 6 months

    Likely · Within months

Open Questions

  • Which specific companies or consortia are bidding for the Mrima Hill development rights?
  • What are the terms of the US offer to support Kenya's domestic critical minerals processing industry?
  • How will local communities and cultural authorities respond to potential development of the sacred Mrima Hill site?

Related Topics

mrima hill
PeopleMarco RubioWilliam Ruto
OrganizationsUS Department of StateGovernment of Kenya
PlacesMrima HillMombasaKenyaUnited States
Topicsrare earthsniobiumkenyaus-china rivalrycritical mineralsmarco rubio
This article was originally published by SCMP News.

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