The expressions of interest came only two days after a public information session was held in Whyalla.

The call for expressions of interest is for 500 hectares of land at Point Lowly but according to the government the 500 hectares is put aside for five projects, not just the port.

We know that there are at least four different developments proposed for the area including the port, a fuel refinery and tank farm, kingfish Harbour and a desalination plant.

Now the State Government has flagged that a second fuel refinery may be developed in the area.

Clear boundaries for each of the projects in the area will not be set until after the plans are more concrete, however Stuart Petroleum expects they will need 70 hectares of land for their fuel refinery and tank farm, BHP expects they will need 24 hectares and the kingfish harbour and associated facilities could use up to 25 hectares.

An estimate for the amount of land needed for the second fuel refinery and the port facilities are not available.

Companies who wish to develop the deep water export port which will sit alongside the current deep water port, Port Bonython, have six weeks to submit their proposals for the development.

The current jetty, used by Santos can’t be used for mineral products, according to the government, as it is a hydrocarbon jetty.

“Companies involved in the mining and resources industry have told us they need a new facility for the cost effective export for their bulk minerals and commodities for the Upper Spencer Gulf,” Premier Mike Rann said.

Indeed, whilst the information session on the development was being held in Whyalla, Premier Rann was meeting with representatives of mining companies throughout the State.

His weekend tour of the industry took in Roxby Downs, Prominent Hill and the Beverly uranium mine.

Rann met with industry representatives from BHP, Heathgate, Geodynamics and Oxiana.

A spokesperson for the government said that the port at Point Lowly may be utilised by these and other minerals and resources companies in South Australia depending on the final jetty design and market demand.

Certainly the market demand is there with China’s insatiable appetite for South Australia’s commodities growing at an ever-increasing pace.

“The major mineral would be iron ore, but copper concentrate together and other products could use the port,” Premier Rann said.

However, until such time as this first phase of development is over, plans for the area are quite shady.

Any companies who have applied for the government contract are bound to secrecy until after the six week period for expressions of interest is over.

At present the only companies who have officially announced their interest in the port are IMX, Centrex Metals, Ironclad Mining and Western Plains Resources.

These companies have formed the Port Bonython Bulk Users Group and wish to export iron ore from Whyalla.

A spokesperson for BHP Billiton said that the company has no current plans to use the port.