Australia's energy-intensive industries brace for possible summer power cuts

Melbourne

SOME of Australia's biggest power users, including mining giant BHP, are taking steps to curb the impact of any repeat of crippling blackouts that hit last summer, worried about a grid that increasingly relies on wind power and old coal-fired plants.

Their backup strategies come despite assurances from the nation's energy market operator that it has lined up enough power reserves - including the world's biggest lithium ion battery, set up by Tesla Inc - to get through all but the most unexpected conditions.