The details are sought by US green groups who believe big business heavily influenced plans for more oil and gas drilling and a revived nuclear power program.

District Judge Emmet Sullivan, in a ruling released on Wednesday, gave the Vice-President two weeks to release the documents or explain why they should be withheld from public inspection.

Soon after the Bush Administration took office, Mr Cheney was chosen to convene the National Energy Policy Development Group and search for new ways to make the US dependent on foreign energy sources.

Environmental groups complained that they were shut out and wanted to know which big companies had been involved.