(Adds details from statement)
AMSTERDAM, July 10 (Reuters) - The Dutch government said onFriday it would ban shale gas drilling for five years and notrenew existing exploration licences due to uncertainties aboutthe environmental impact.
The decision comes as the Netherlands steps up its searchfor alternative energy sources in the wake of shrinking domesticnatural gas supplies and strains in its relationship with majorenergy supplier Russia.
"There will be no shale gas drilling during this governmentperiod," a statement said. At the end of 2015 the governmentwill decide on the role of shale gas in the country's long-termenergy mix.
"It is still unclear how much shale gas there is and if itsextraction would be financially feasible," it said. "Researchshows that there is uncertainty about the effect shale gasextraction would have." (Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; editing by David Clarke andKeith Weir)
