17 Jun 2019

Gas shortages, coal use up - Energy Minister responds

From Morning Report, 8:40 am on 17 June 2019

Gas shortages across the country have meant power companies have been burning 138 percent more coal than at the same time last year.

The details are in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's quarterly energy report which shows a reduction in the use of renewable energy, gas shortages, higher electricity prices and coal imports resulting in higher emissions.

The Minister for Energy and Resources Megan Woods told Susie Ferguson the outage on the main gas pipeline, coupled with low lake levels meant last year was particularly difficult, but there has been a huge investment in renewable energy in the last 18 months.