The closure of Hazelwood coal-fired power station in Victoria and the greater need for gas-fired generation in South Australia has lead to a significant risk of a gas shortfall in eastern states over the next two years, the Australian Energy Market Operator has warned.

With Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce briefing industry leaders in Sydney on Monday about possible restrictions on gas exports, the move to secure more gas for the domestic market could be enacted within weeks and will hit all the big gas producers including Origin Energy, Santos and Shell.