How Kenya’s sacred Mrima Hill became new front in US-China minerals rivalry

Mrima Hill, a sacred site located about 40 miles southwest of Kenya's coastal city Mombasa, is gaining prominence as a new arena in the US-China competition for control of critical minerals. Both American and Chinese entities are vying for the rights to develop the site, which is known for its abundant reserves of rare earths and niobium, a metal that enhances the strength and lightness of steel.

The US is keen to reduce its dependence on China for processed rare earths, a sector where China currently holds about 85 percent of the global refining capacity, according to the International Energy Agency. Aly-Khan Satchu, a geoeconomic analyst specializing in sub-Saharan Africa, noted that the US-China battle over critical minerals is primarily about refining infrastructure rather than just securing mineral deposits. China enjoys a decade-long head start in this regard.

The US has offered to assist Kenya in developing its own domestic industry for processing critical minerals. American officials met with Kenyan President William Ruto during the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week to discuss how Kenya's mineral resources could boost its standing in the sector and provide opportunities for US firms to add value.

A senior US delegation also promoted American participation in the AmCham Business Summit in Nairobi on September 9, including representatives from the Department of State and the agency responsible for critical minerals.

Washington aims to lessen its reliance on China for processed rare earths, which currently account for a significant portion of the global supply. Aly-Khan Satchu warned that while the US is not currently competitive in this area, it could become so with continued investment and off-take agreements. US interest in the site dates back to June 2023, when Marc Dillard, then-charge d’affaires at the US embassy in Kenya, visited the area.

Chinese nationals were reportedly prevented from entering the site, and locals have expressed concerns about the impact of mining on their sacred forest, which is designated as a national monument.