The South Australian government is sounding out Australia’s largest steel maker BlueScope as a potential rescuer of Sanjeev Gupta’s stricken Whyalla steelworks.

BlueScope, the $9 billion giant that runs the Port Kembla steelworks in NSW, along with several Asian steelmakers has been contacted by the SA government to assess interest in playing a role in reviving the steel-making industry in the state.