Fonterra may power itself

New Zealand's biggest company is so concerned about future power supplies it is planning to produce its own.

Dairy giant Fonterra says the cost and generation of electricity is now so uncertain that it is sharply focused on new power sources.

Operations Director, Max Parkin, has told a forum in Auckland that Fonterra has been forced to look at alternatives because it cannot afford power disruptions.

One day of lost production at its Hawera plant alone would cost $20 million.

Mr Parkin believes the company can use the large amount of land it owns to set up alternatives such as wind farms to boost supply in summer when milk production is at its height. In winter, the excess power would be sold back to the national grid.

- NEWSTALK ZB