The economic affairs ministry has stopped working on the development of licences for a second nuclear power station in the Netherlands, minister Maxime Verhagen told MPs on Monday.

Energy firms Delta and RWE, which had both expressed interest in building a new nuclear power station, have both put their plans on hold because of the economic situation.
Verhagen told MPs he will meet representatives from both companies to assess the situation and what their next steps are likely to be.
Nuclear energy remains a part of the government’s strategy of developing a sustainable and affordable energy supply.
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Delta said last week it is putting its plans to develop a second nuclear power station in Zeeland on the back burner for at least two to three years.
The company said the financial crisis, the massive investment needed and over-capacity in the electricity market are behind its decision. The plan will be revived when economic developments are right, local authority-owned Delta said.
The government is keen to award a second nuclear power plant licence before 2015 but has made it clear a new power station will have to be funded privately.
The Netherlands has one nuclear power station, at Borssele in Zeeland.