Danish gov't postpones making decision on oil search in North Sea

COPENHAGEN, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Danish government has postponed making a decision on whether to continue the search for and extraction of oil in the North Sea.

"It's a difficult exercise and that's why we will take a little longer than you normally do and normally have done," Dan Joergensen, minister of climate, energy and utilities, told the Danish newspaper Berlingske on Thursday.

The minister said the climate and economic consequences of such a decision require more consideration.

The postponement will likely affect four oil companies that have applied to the Danish government for the right to extract oil until 2055.