The cabinet will handle the application for the construction of a new nuclear power plant by energy concern Delta as normal, Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende is reported as saying following Friday’s cabinet meeting.

He said that he does not want to predict the future but pointed out that the processing of such an application requires considerable time. ‘The question is whether it would be possible to take a decision during this administration,’ he is quoted by ANP news service as saying.
This appears to contradict environment minister Jacqueline Cramer who said yesterday that the coalition agreement prevents a decision on the building licence being made by the current government.
Balkenende stressed that the coalition agreement only rules out the building of new nuclear power stations during the present administration. It does not, he is reported as saying, prevent a decision being made on future construction.