Iluka Resources and RareX Shortlisted for Kenya's Mrima Hill Rare Earth Mine Project Bid

Published: Jul 29, 2026 11:42
A consortium formed by Iluka Resources and RareX has been shortlisted for the final bidding stage of the Mrima Hill rare earth mine project in Kenya. RareX’s development strategy focuses on mining, preliminary processing, and enhancing local value addition, including producing phosphate and manganese by-products, while further rare earth processing is planned to be carried out at Iluka’s Eneabba smelter in Western Australia, built with a $1.8 billion investment. The Kenyan government is now requiring shortlisted parties to submit formal development proposals to advance the decision-making process. The Mrima Hill niobium and rare earth mine is a carbonatite deposit, with rare earth oxides estimated at approximately 6.1 million mt and substantial niobium resources, considered one of the top 10 rare earth projects in the world.

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