The Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs has opened a tender for the commercial development of copper deposits in Kamacabi, Tharaka Nithi County, positioning Kenya to capitalise on a strengthening global commodities cycle that is tilting in favour of base metals.
- •Copper, classified as a strategic mineral, sits at the centre of a more structured push to attract private capital into the extractives sector as demand accelerates globally.
- •The successful bidder will secure a prospecting licence for the approximately 196 square kilometre block and take on full responsibility for exploration, mine development and processing.
- •J.P. Morgan Global Research expects prices to rise to US$ 12,500 per metric tonne in the second quarter of 2026, averaging about US$ 12,075/mt for the year.
According to Gregory Shearer, JP Mogan’s head of Base and Precious Metals Strategy, tightening supply and fragmented inventories are creating a strong upside case for the metal. “These dynamics… are enough to push prices above $12,000/mt in the first half of 2026,” he said in a recent outlook.
Emerging demand drivers are also reshaping the market. Rapid expansion in data centre infrastructure, fuelled by the surge in artificial intelligence and cloud computing, could add roughly 475,000 metric tonnes of copper demand in 2026 alone, up by about 110,000 tonnes year-on-year.
Kenya’s Kamacabi block offers early signs of commercial viability. Surveys point to copper mineralisation across biotite gneiss, pegmatites and intrusive dykes, with visible malachite and azurite occurrences.
Laboratory results indicate copper concentrations ranging from 1% to 31% across Kamacabi, Gatue, Kiamiramba and Maragwa. Additional Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) tests show chalcopyrite ore grades of up to 19.5%, while a 200-metre geophysical anomaly has been identified as a potential high-value zone.
The ministry will provide bidders with radiometric and magnetic datasets from a recent nationwide airborne geophysical survey to support exploration.
Interested firms must demonstrate strong financial capacity, proven experience in copper exploration and mining, and the ability to execute large-scale projects from development to processing. Additional criteria include robust corporate governance structures, experience operating in sensitive ecosystems and adoption of sustainable practices, including renewable energy.
The government is also prioritising environmental responsibility, community engagement and local value addition. Bidders will be required to commit to on-site beneficiation -the treatment of raw material (such as iron ore) to improve physical or chemical properties especially in preparation for smelting-aligning with Kenya’s policy of retaining more value domestically rather than exporting raw ore.
