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BP unveils Texas City findings



By Upstream staff 

BP has issued its final incident investigation report on the 23 March Texas City refinery blast and fire that killed 15 workers and injured 170.

The company said it is implementing the recommendations of the investigation team along with a modernisation programme to assure the long-term security of the refinery.

"The report clearly describes the underlying causes and management system failures which contributed to the worst tragedy in BP's recent history," said president of BP Products North America, Ross Pillari. " We accept the findings, and we are working to make Texas City a complex that attains the highest levels of safety, reliability and environmental performance."

BP expects to invest about $1 billion to upgrade and maintain the site over the next five years.

According to the report, the investigation team "found no evidence of anyone consciously or intentionally taking actions or decisions that put others at risk." However, "the team found many areas where procedures, policies and expected behaviours were not met."

In addition, BP may face a US criminal probe, according to the US Department of Labour.

"A verbal referral has been made to the Department of Justice," said Alan Belsky, a Labour Department spokesman. "It is now up to the Department of Justice to decide whether or not to pursue it."

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment on the referral and BP had no comment on the possible probe.

BP has reached financial settlements with most of the survivors of the deceased and with many of the injured, however, several lawsuits remain pending.

The company has set aside $700 million to compensate victims of the blast.


Friday, 09 December, 2005, 20:55 GMT  | last updated: Friday, 09 December, 2005, 21:00 GMT

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