BP disaster bill hits $2bn
Oil giant BP has admitted that the cost of its response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has hit $2bn (£1.3bn) and it has paid out $105m in damages to those affected by the disaster.
BP added in a statement that it rejected claims by its partner in the oil well, Anadarko Petroleum that it had been negligent in the way it executed the well.
Chief executive Tony Hayward hit out at “other parties” who could be jointly responsible for the crisis but are not taking responsibility.
He said: “Other parties besides BP may be responsible for costs and liabilities arising from the oil spill and we expect those parties to live up to their expectations.”
His comments came after Andarko’s chief executive Jim Hackett suggested BP’s behaviour had revealed “gross negligence or wilful misconduct” and that his company would not be paying out.
Andarko is a 25 per cent joint venture partner in the project.
BP agreed last week to place $20bn in a fund to compensate victims of the oil spill.