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In recent past, very powerful global powers including the United States of America, Australia, Russia and China have gained immense interest in rare minerals discovered in Kenya’s Mrima Hills area in the coastal region. The rare minerals are being estimated at 8 trillion Kenyan shillings ($62 billion) which now gives Kenya a chance to boost their economy if they will exploit the minerals.
But here is the briefing of the rare minerals found in Kenya. First, they are earth metallic elements naturally formed underground and are used in modern day technology i.e. In electronic vehicles, Electronics and military defense. They are not referred to as rare because they hard to get, but hard to extract and are found in small quantities.
They are found in Group 3 of periodic table and includes lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium and are 17 in total. Their importance is not what they can do on their own, but what they do when they are combined with other minerals to make alloys. It makes them stronger, heat resistant and even makes magnets more powerful. For instance, the F-35 Fighter jet has 415kg or rare earth, Type 51 Destroyer contains 2600kg of same minerals while Virginia Class Submarine is stocked with 4600kg of rare earths minerals in its body.
In practical life, neodymium which is part of rare earths minerals is used in the making of speakers of earbuds. Additionally, the motor in the car which makes it able to lift and lower car seat or even car windows is made up of rare earths metals. In the making of EV motors, there is more use of rare earth metals in the car’s motors and also in the robots which are used in assembling the parts. In summary, rare-earth metals make the best and strongest magnets. Surprisingly, you only need a small amount of the minerals to make the perfect component you desire.
For the case of a jet engine, it requires to function at a temperature higher than the metal melting point. In order to achieve that, a Yttria stabilized Zirconia film is used in the outside, which is a component of the rare earth metals.
Most rare earths minerals are mined in China with an average of 250 000 tonnes which is 69% of the worlds total production. United states, Burma, Thailand, Nigeria and Australia follow with an average of 50, 000 tonnes according to USGS 2024. Also, 91% of China’s global supplies are rare earths according to IEA.
The process of mining emits a lot of carbon dioxide with rare earths minerals emitting 70 tonnes of the dangerous gas from the mining process up to refining process.
During a Mineral Research done in 2012 in Mrima Hills in Kwale County by Cortec Company owned by late Jacob Juma, the mineral Niobium was discovered at the place. At that time, it was estimated around 6.6 trillion. Another research was conducted in 2014 in the same location, and the worth had increased significantly. In December the same year, another exploration of mineral research conducted in the area also showed a shoot in the worth of the minerals, reason being that they kept on discovering other minerals in the same group as niobium such as Tantalum, titanium, Zirconium, Uranium and Manganese. The research had been conducted by Cortec company and costed 12 billion shillings.
According to White House, the USA President has imposed a 100% trade tariff on China’s goods, one of them being on The Rare earth minerals. The USA does not have ores of rare earth minerals, and according to reports, since they have trade wars with China, which produces the largest market share of the special mineral, the USA is being rumored to be actively in search of the mineral to curb China’s dominance.
