MPs on Tuesday voted in favour of a motion calling on the government to look into building “at least” four new large nuclear power stations in the Netherlands, not the two which the outgoing cabinet had set in motion.

The proposal was put forward by VVD parliamentarian Silvio Erkens and calls on climate minister Rob Jetten to “work out a scenario which provides for a greater share of nuclear power” in the Netherlands.

The result of the vote was “a clear political signal”, Erkens said after the vote.

The current cabinet agreed at the end of 2022 to build two new power stations next to the existing nuclear power plant in Borssele, Zeeland. The aim is to have them come on stream in 2035 and provide up to 13% of the country’s electricity needs.

MPs did not discuss where the two extra power plants could be built.

The Borssele plant produces some 3% of all Dutch energy use. It had been due to close in 2033 but is being kept open longer pending the development of the two new plants.