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Report 'to criticise BP safety' Report criticises BP over safety
(30 minutes later)
BP is expected to be criticised for safety lapses at its US oil refineries in a report to be published later. A US report has found "material deficiencies" in BP's safety procedures at its American oil refineries.
An independent panel set up after the fatal 2005 explosion at BP's Texas City refinery is tipped to highlight process and management failings. The independent panel looked into the fatal 2005 explosion at BP's Texas City refinery, that killed 15 people and injured a further 180.
The Financial Times said the report would claim BP had not always "provided the resources required" for a strong safety regime at its US refineries. BP said it would implement the report's recommendations.
But it is thought the report will not single out any individuals for blame.
Recommendations
However, the FT report suggested that current management may be implicated in the problems with the oil giant's safety culture in the US.
On Friday, BP revealed that its chief executive, Lord Browne, would retire in July - 18 months earlier than planned.
BBC business editor Robert Peston said that if the report was as critical as expected, it was likely investors, analysts and journalists would be asking whether Lord Browne jumped before he was pushed.
His replacement, BP's head of exploration and production, Tony Hayward will have to address the shortcomings that have drawn such criticism.
(There was a) mentality of not repairing things... and cost-cutting that had been indicated as a cause for much of their safety problems Carolyn MerritChief executiveUS Chemical Safety Board Check BP's share price
The Texas City incident - which killed 15 people and injured 180 - and a series of pipeline leaks at BP's main Alaska oil field last year have raised serious question marks about its safety record in the US.
The panel, chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker, will make a series of recommendations which BP is expected to endorse.
BP has accepted that the explosion was preventable while maintaining that spending on maintenance at the refinery was above the industry average.
It has earmarked $7bn (£3.5bn) of spending over the next four years to upgrade safety systems at its US refineries and pipeline network.
Pay-out claims
The company has set aside $1.6bn for compensation claims from victims of the explosion and their families.
Some of these claims have been settled although others are outstanding - with claimants set to use any damning findings within the report to bolster their case.
BP declined to comment on the report until its official release.
US regulators have already criticised BP for the safety regime at the Houston refinery, saying the company knew of "significant safety problems" at the plant before the explosion.
The head of the group that conducted the initial investigation into the blast told BBC Radio Four's Today programme that many flaws had been uncovered.
Chairman and chief executive of the US Chemical Safety Board, Carolyn Merrit said there had been a "mentality of not repairing things... and cost-cutting that had been indicated as a cause for much of their safety problems and poor performance."
She added: "Much of this had been related to very high officials in the organisation, including a member of the board of directors, and yet these items had not been corrected."