Fluor Corp among US firms vying for Kenya critical minerals project, minister says
FLR•Fluor Corp is part of a consortium among five contenders for Kenya’s Mrima Hill critical minerals deposit, after two Chinese companies withdrew. Kenya expects to announce the successful bidder within two to three weeks.
1. Five contenders remain
Kenya’s mining minister, Hassan Ali Joho, said five contenders submitted tenders on October 21 for the Mrima Hill deposit in southern Kenya. They include two US consortia, one US-affiliated consortium, an Australian consortium and a Kenyan-British joint venture.
2. Fluor consortium bids
Fluor Corp is part of Meridian Mineral Holdings, one of the two US consortia. The other contenders include Frontier Minerals, the US-affiliated Mrima Earth consortium, a Kenyan-British venture called Gem of Dreams, and an Australian tie-up involving RareX and Iluka Resources.
3. Decision expected soon
Joho said the government expects to award the deposit within two to three weeks. He said preliminary indicators suggest the deposit contains tens of billions of dollars’ worth of rare earth minerals and niobium, and said two Chinese companies withdrew from the process last week.
