The oil company British Petrol will have to pay 373 million dollars to compensate for the damage caused by the explosion at the refinery in Texas and the oil spill in Alaska, as well as for allegations of manipulating the propane market, the U.S. government announced on Thursday.
BP has agreed to pay 50 million dollars in fines for the powerful explosion at the Texas City refinery in which 15 people died in 2005, and more than 170 were injured, and in addition, it has already spent 1.6 billion dollars in compensation for the victims. BP has also agreed to plead guilty to one count of violating the U.S. Clean Air Act. "Companies that disregard these laws and endanger their workers and the communities in which they operate must be held accountable," said acting U.S. Attorney General Peter Keisler. Additionally, BP will pay 303 million dollars to settle allegations that it manipulated propane prices in 2004. (H)
