BP’s (LON:BP.) legal wrangling in the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill took another new turn, with the news that it is now suing America.
The oil ‘super major’ is suing the US government for banning it from winning new contracts after the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion in 2010.
The oil giant claims the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) veto also affects 21 of its subsidiaries that played no part in the spill.
The blowout killed 11 workers and led to the largest oil spill in US history.
“We believe that the EPA's action here is inappropriate and unjustified as a matter of law and policy, and we are pursuing our right to seek relief in federal court,” said Geoff Morrell, BP's head of US communications.
“At the same time, we remain open to a reasonable settlement with the EPA.”
This has come as BP has struggled to cope with the number of compensation claims related to the disaster. It revealed at the end of last month that it has now paid out almost all of the US$20bn set aside in its compensation fund.
A ruling has yet to be made following the initial phase of the trial in New Orleans, which ended in April. The next part of the trial is due to start at the end of September.
Lower oil prices have also taken their toll on BP as its second quarter results revealed.
Profits were just US$2.7bn, which is some US$1.5bn less that the preceding quarter and US$900mln shy of 2012’s second quarter number.
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