BP troubles deepen with Buncefield verdict

[G_j]

Source: Guardian UK

BP troubles deepen with Buncefield verdict

Court sentence tomorrow will put the spotlight on BP's role in oil depot explosion as it battles to recover from Gulf spill.

Terry Macalister
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 15 July 2010 18.57 BST


Beleaguered BP will find its reputation further tarnished tomorrow when a British criminal court passes sentence on a company it half owns over safety breaches connected with the worst explosion and fire since the second world war.

The British Pipeline Agency (BPA), controlled 50/50 by BP and Shell, is to be fined for breaking health and safety as well as environmental regulations at its base next to the Buncefield oil storage depot near Hemel Hempstead.

Total of France and Chevron of the US are in the main firing line over liability for the Buncefield incident in 2005, but critics say all companies can be expected to get off lightly compared with the hammering meted out to BP in the US over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mike Penning, Hemel Hempstead MP and a new government minister, said he expected the judge to hand out relatively minimal fines to the oil companies despite them causing 47 injuries and destroying many homes.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jul/15/bp-buncefield

[tabatha]

1. BP needs to be dissolved.

They are a crap company.

[obxhead]

2. I doubt that will happen...

Now Exxon/Mobil buying them out completely? I see that happening.

[dipsydoodle]

3. If you'd searched the subject further

you'd have found that Total had already been found liable.

Total alone held liable in March for Buncefield explosion : http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article5944190.ece

The case at St Albans Crown Court concerns secondary issues. Both Buncefield and St Albans are almost within spitting distance of my house. You would not believe how loud that bang was early on the Sunday morning during which it occured. When the vapour cloud expoded it sucked all of the oxygen out of the air for an instant which created a vacuum which made all our roofs bounce for miles around.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Here's todays result from the court

Total UK, which operated the depot, must pay a fine of £3.6m, plus another £2.6m in costs. Hertfordshire Oil Storage Limited (HOSL), which is 60% owned by French enegy giant Total and 40% by Chevron, was hit with a fine of £1.45m and another £1m in costs.

The British Pipeline Agency (BPA), which is owned 50/50 by BP and Shell, received a fine of £300,000.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/16/buncefield-companies-fined-fire-oil

BPS'a fine was for environmental damages : against BO and Shell....... 50/50. Charges were in connection with failing to prevent major accidents and limit their effects, and causing pollution to enter controlled waters - Grand Union Canal I think as there is nothing else local.