ore deal hinges on port approval

Ore deal hinges on port approval, say locals

Some locals warn Centrex to sort out Port Lincoln port access for its export plan (Joe Morrison)

Some locals at Port Lincoln have accused Centrex Metals of being premature in signing a big export deal before it has approval to use the port there for exports.

Centrex and China's third-largest steel group Wuhan want to develop local magnetite deposits, in a deal worth $186 million.

Centrex is yet to get approval for exports through Port Lincoln and there has been firm community support for an alternative port to be used.

Ross Haldane from a local community action group says the export issue should have been settled first.

"You can't push it out with wheelbarrows so a port's a pretty fundamental thing," he said.

"Getting the port in the right spot is again fundamental because it's pretty obvious Port Lincoln is not going to be the bulk exporting port for iron ore for Eyre Peninsula.

"Surely they should be concentrating a bit more on getting that new port."