A poor gas outlook is seen as the main suspect for further job losses in manufacturing

The country's largest gas user Methanex is proposing to move from two plants to one for the foreseeable future.

It comes after Winstone pulp confirmed plans to shut two mills to more than 200 workers - earlier this week.

Former president and CEO of Methanex, Bruce Aitken says we lack a long term, coherent energy strategy.

He says if you want to build power stations or wind farms, they take many years in planning and construction.