BHP Billiton will send a delegation to Whyalla to see how it can support local suppliers and says there will be increasing opportunities as its Olympic Dam mine in the state's Far North ramps up. 
BHP managing director Andrew Mackenzie said the company, which started mining iron ore at Whyalla in 1901, had deep roots in the community and would look at what it could do to support it. The pledge follows iron ore miner and steelmaker Arrium being placed in administration last week. Arrium, then OneSteel, was split off from BHP in 2000.
"The work of the team to reset the cost base means that Olympic Dam has an increasingly bright future," Mr Mackenzie said.
"Our Olympic Dam operations have sourced steel from the Whyalla steelworks in the past and we have found them to be a timely supplier of quality steel products.
"The Olympic Dam supply team were recently in Whyalla for a buyers tour organised by Global Maintenance Upper Spencer Gulf. (It) reported a continuing high level of cap-acity, at more competitive rates than previously understood.
"We intend to carry out a follow-up visit ... to understand whether there is increased opportunity to work with competitive Whyalla and Upper Spencer Gulf suppliers for our capital requirements." Mr Mackenzie said BHP also was advertising for more staff for Olympic Dam, to fill roles related to the expansion of a new section of the copper, gold and uranium ore body.
"These roles are available to all members of our local communities including Whyalla," he said. "Approximately 10 per cent of our direct workforce currently lives in Whyalla and the Upper Spencer Gulf." Also yesterday, the Federal Government announced that Assistant Industry Minister Karen Andrews will replace Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade bureaucrats as the government's representative at next week's OECD steel symposium in Brussels. She will be raising Australia's concerns over the global steel glut.
Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said the move demonstrated the Federal Government's commitment to the industry. He will meet with Arrium's new administrators, KordaMentha, tomorrow.
Senator Nick Xenophon has recruited a pioneer for "buying local" in government to run in the electorate of Grey, which covers Whyalla.
Andrea Broadfoot, Port Lincoln councillor and employment expert, has declared she wants to make sure "local communities receive economic benefit out of the investment of government".
As a member of the project board for the $5 million Port Lincoln leisure centre, she said she had inserted clauses into contracts requiring suppliers to demonstrate local benefits.PAGE 25: CHINA UNDER THE PUMP OVER GLOBAL STEEL GLUT