John
06-17-2010, 04:55 PM
The oil giant's chief executive Tony Hayward is appearing before an influential committee in the US Congress a day after pledging a £13.5 billion compensation fund and suspending dividends for the rest of the year.
But the move was not enough to deflect the anger of US politicians.
Henry Waxman, Democrat chairman of the House of Representative's Committee on Energy and Commerce, accused BP of repeatedly taking "shortcuts that endangered life and increased the risk of a catastrophic blow out".
As to Mr Hayward's role, the committee found "not a single email or document that showed you paid even the slightest attention to the dangers of this well," Mr Waxman said.
It was noted that five days before the April 20 accident, the oil firm's drilling engineer described the Deepwater Horizon rig as a "nightmare well".
"BP's corporate complacency is astonishing," Mr Waxman added.
It was noted that when Mr Hayward took over at BP in 2007 he pledged to improve the firm's safety record. "But under your leadership, BP has taken the most extreme risks," Mr Waxman said. He added that "corner after corner" was cut as BP put financial concerns ahead of safety.
Republican representative Joe Barton said he agreed with the committee chairman's criticisms of BP but also hit out at the way the firm was coerced into an announcement on dividend payments and compensation.
He said that there was "no question" that BP was liable, but added Wednesday's events at the White House amounted to a "20 billion dollar shakedown". It would set a "terrible precedent for the future", Mr Barton added.
But the move was not enough to deflect the anger of US politicians.
Henry Waxman, Democrat chairman of the House of Representative's Committee on Energy and Commerce, accused BP of repeatedly taking "shortcuts that endangered life and increased the risk of a catastrophic blow out".
As to Mr Hayward's role, the committee found "not a single email or document that showed you paid even the slightest attention to the dangers of this well," Mr Waxman said.
It was noted that five days before the April 20 accident, the oil firm's drilling engineer described the Deepwater Horizon rig as a "nightmare well".
"BP's corporate complacency is astonishing," Mr Waxman added.
It was noted that when Mr Hayward took over at BP in 2007 he pledged to improve the firm's safety record. "But under your leadership, BP has taken the most extreme risks," Mr Waxman said. He added that "corner after corner" was cut as BP put financial concerns ahead of safety.
Republican representative Joe Barton said he agreed with the committee chairman's criticisms of BP but also hit out at the way the firm was coerced into an announcement on dividend payments and compensation.
He said that there was "no question" that BP was liable, but added Wednesday's events at the White House amounted to a "20 billion dollar shakedown". It would set a "terrible precedent for the future", Mr Barton added.