Experts have raised concerns after natural gas production took a nosedive.
It fell 20 percent in the first quarter compared to the same time last year, to 22.85 petajoules.
Industry spokespeople say available gas is depleting - and they can't harness new fields because of the 2018 ban on exploration.
Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie joined the Afternoons team to discuss.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.