Obama blasts oil industry
PRESIDENT Barack Obama has suspended offshore drilling plans in Alaska and Virginia at the same time laying into BP for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Speaking yesterday, Obama said that planned exploration off the shores of the two US states would be suspended, at the same time placing a moratorium on 33 wells currently being drilled in the Gulf.
Obama also called for more reform from the US government over laws governing the oil industry and struck out at the “close relationships” held between the government and exploration companies.
“All drilling must be safe. The oil industry has held cosy and corrupt relationships with the government, which meant there has been no governance,” he said.
Obama also fended off criticism that US government was too slow in its response to the BP spill.