Economic affairs minister Henk Kamp said on Wednesday he will not decide if a new oil company can drill for oil and gas off the Wadden Sea island of Terschelling until next year.

‘We are first going to amend the mining law which will also increase the role of landscape and nature in the decision making process,’ Kamp said in a briefing.

A majority of MPs oppose granting a licence to drill close to the island. They point out that not only is the Wadden Sea area unique and has Unesco world heritage status, but the entire island council has voted against the plan.

Kamp said earlier he wanted to decide what to do about the Tulip Oil request before the summer. The gas field under the island was first identified 20 years ago.