The biggest shareholder in Nuon has said it will keep its stake in the leading Dutch energy concern for the coming four to six years, reports the Financieele Dagblad on Wednesday.

The province of Gelderland (44.4% ) said it hopes the announcement will provide some calm following a turbulent year. In 2007 the proposed merger between Nuon and rival Essent was called off.
But the new commitment does not mean that Gelderland will stop considering its options, said spokesman Harry Keereweg, adding that if an opportunity arises for Nuon to form an alliance with an European partner, this would be possible.