Australian producer Fortescue has applied to the Western Australia's (WA) Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for approval to build its 12mn t/yr Wyloo North iron ore project the Pilbara region.
The EPA will accept public submissions about the project until 24 February, it said on 17 February.
Fortescue plans to build Wyloo North over two years, operate it for 13 years, and then decommission it over five years. The company will process ore from the project at its existing Eliwana mine, it said in an EPA proposal.
Wyloo North's iron ore deposits have an iron ore grade of 59.6pc Fe, according to US investor Vox Royalty. Fortescue's average realised hematite price stood at $93/t in October-December 2025, below Argus' average iron ore fines 61pc Fe (ICX) cfr Qingdao price of $102.63/t over the same period.
Wyloo North will increase Fortescue's emissions profile. The project could generate up to 52,311 t/yr of CO2-equivelant scope 1 emissions from mining and operational activity, Fortescue said.
Fortescue generated 2.6mn t of CO2e scope 1 emissions in 2024-25 but aims to fully decarbonise its terrestrial operations by 2030. The company will focus on fleet electrification and renewable energy projects in 2025-26.
Fortescue will power Wyloo North using mainly renewable sources and batteries but plans to maintain diesel generators to account for potential disruptions, according to its proposal.
Fortescue installed a five-hour, 250MWh battery energy storage system in December 2025 and plans to install another 4-5GWh of storage over the coming years.
