Fortescue Metals Group looks for lithium in West Australia
Major iron ore company Fortescue Metals Group is prospecting for lithium in the Pilbara area of Western Australia, as the outlook for the lithium and electric vehicle market improves globally. Fortescue is looking for lithium "next door" to other sites in Pilbara that have been shown to be rich in the mineral. The move into lithium would only be cemented if it proved valuable, and the company is also seeking copper, the company said.
Iron ore heavyweight Fortescue Metals Group is looking for lithium in the vast Pilbara region of Western Australia, in response to the strengthening outlook for lithium and electric vehicles worldwide.

Fortescue's chief executive, Nev Power, confirmed the exploratory work on Tuesday, saying the tenements it held were "next door" to the current lithium operations of Pilbara Minerals and Mineral Resources.

"So we're in the right area. We're looking for elephants in elephant country, but whether you find the elephant, I don't know," he said.

Asked if Fortescue's interest in lithium was driven by the strengthening outlook for lithium and electric vehicles, he said: "Yeah, absolutely."