Fluor Corp Joins US-Led Bids to Develop Kenya’s Multibillion-Dollar Critical Minerals Deposit

American engineering firm Fluor Corp is among a group of predominantly U.S. investors vying to develop Kenya’s vast Mrima Hill critical minerals site. Kenyan Mining Minister Hassan Ali Joho disclosed that five international consortia submitted tenders on October 21 for the deposit, which is situated roughly 65 kilometers from Mombasa and holds an estimated tens of billions of dollars worth of rare earth elements and niobium. The submission shortlist includes two U.S. consortia—one being Meridian Mineral Holdings alongside Fluor Corp and Tetra Tech—a U.S.-affiliated entity, an Australian group, and a Kenyan-British joint venture.

The active bidding phase follows the unexpected exit of two Chinese companies, Hunan Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals and Jinan Yuxiao Group Co. Ltd., which withdrew from the Mrima Hill tender. While the Kenyan government noted no direct conversations regarding the reasoning behind their departure, sources indicated that Chinese entities instead directed bids toward separate state mining initiatives submitted the same day for copper, coltan, manganese, and chromite. Minister Joho emphasized that the evaluation process remains completely transparent and free from foreign diplomatic pressure, maintaining that decisions are driven strictly by Kenya’s national economic interests.

The push by U.S.-backed entities comes as Washington actively seeks to secure critical mineral supply chains and reduce reliance on dominant global producers like China. Concurrently, Nairobi is advocating for increased in-country processing capabilities so local economies retain greater value from their natural resources. Kenya’s government confirmed that the winning developer for the Mrima Hill deposit will be selected and officially announced within the next two to three weeks.

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