Athens (AFP) – Greece's government said Thursday it plans to double production of lignite, or brown coal, in the coming two years despite the pollution it causes as Athens aims to reduce its dependence upon Russian gas. Greece depends upon Russia for 40 percent of its natural gas and since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February it has been searching for alternatives to ensure normal supplies. "Lignite is polluting and in normal circumstances, natural gas is cheaper," government spokesman Giannis Ekonomou said. But given the conflict in Ukraine and the needed to diversify energy supplies, Ekonomou said increased brown coal production...