More coal's being burned to keep up with energy demand. 

The Gas Industry Company has revealed there was a 12.5% reduction in gas production last year. 

It's also found nearly 30% less gas was produced in the first three months of this year than projected. 

Energy Minister Simeon Brown says it's because the last Government's disincentivised gas production. 

He told Mike Hosking that the low production's threatening our energy security. 

He says news from Genesis Energy shows they're burning a lot more coal to meet that need, which is twice as carbon intensive than burning gas. 

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