BP chairman takes on US critics

[Ed Barrow]

Source: Financial Times

BP’s chairman hit back at critics of the company’s response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, insisting that they ought to remember that the group was “big and important” for the US.

As BP prepared to today launch latest attempt to halt the flow, Carl-Henric Svanberg told the Financial Times on Tuesday that “everything that can be done is being done” to staunch the spill caused by the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig.

In his first newspaper interview since the accident, he also insisted that, while BP’s reputation had suffered damage, that should not last long “if we do the right thing”.

He said: “The US is a big and important market for BP, and BP is also a big and important company for the US, with its contribution to drilling and oil and gas production. So the position goes both ways.”


Read more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9203a112-6827-11df-a52f-00144feab49a.html

[Angry Dragon]

1. Sounded like a threat to me

[roguevalley]

17. fucking douchebag needs a serious beating. keep it up and some

big old boy from Louisiana will do it, damned the incoming.

[marylanddem]

2. Every voice that's come from that damned company is arrogant as hell.

Each and every one of them. Fuck BP.

[Downwinder]

12. Have to keep the Colonials in their place.

[msongs]

3. "..and we spend a lot of money on your political campaigns by way of influence peddling" lol nt

[KT2000]

4. Wow - the psychopaths are in charge

and it is now out there for all to see.
Blackmail

[azmouse]

5. I hope he rots in hell.

[skeptical cynic]

6. Not much of a threat

If BP pulled out, others would rush in to fill the space.

Let's give it a try!

Maybe a little less oil will be spilled and fewer American workers will die in the future.

[gateley]

7. If BP had done "the right thing" this probably wouldn't have occurred. nt

[truthisfreedom]

8. He's right, and that's EXACTLY why we have to race toward alternative energy sources as fast as we

can. These fat cats completely control our country and they're dangerous as hell.

[underpants]

9. The whole thing is an insight to the PR (message control) educations at the top business schools

BP claimed at one point (this was established here on DU) that there was no oil leaking
The CEO appeared but didn't say anything...then appeared and made an ass of himself
BP fought to keep he visual of the leak from reaching the public
BP has an aggressive media operation going (NPR had a "town hall meeting" that blew up in BP's face)
and so on

this is classic media control but unfortuneately (for them) they don't control the image or the media anymore

[cliffordu]

10. Not if his fucking company is blowtorched off the planet.

Executives doing hard time in the general population of any maximum security prison.

General population, no ad seg.......

Let them know what dealing with predators is really all about.

[ixion]

11. drop him off in a skiff in the middle of his mess for a week or two

and then see how he feels.

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Sure does sound like a threat. Brings to mind a story I heard on the radio this AM

Australia wants to impose a 40% windfall tax on the mining companies there. The biggest mining company Rio Tinto responded by saying it just might go elsewhere...."friendlier states" with all its money and power...


http://www.futurespros.com/news/commodities---futures-news/wrapup-1-rio-tinto:-tax-makes-australia-top-sovereign-concern-126712

<snip>
SYDNEY, May 24 (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto said it is reviewing all investments in Australia due to a proposed new tax, describing the country as its No.1 sovereign risk concern and sending a weak Australian dollar even lower.

Australia, which accounts for the bulk of Rio's revenue from iron ore, coal and other commodities, had been considered a top safe-haven investment destination for miners hunting the raw materials to fuel Asia's growth.

But plans by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to introduce a 40 percent tax on miners' so-called super profits has sparked high-stakes political battle ahead of a general election later this year.

"This is my number one sovereign risk issue on a global basis," Chief Executive Tom Albanese told reporters on Monday, noting that the tax had set up the prospect of a long period of uncertainty which was corrosive to new investment.

Albanese's remarks were seen as adding pressure on Canberra to scrap or alter the plan as government representatives enter a second week of industry consultations. Separate meetings late last week with Rio and BHP Billiton yielded no modifications.
<snip>
"We'd be asking our managers to evaluate it on a worst-case basis," he said, adding that capital would shift in the meantime to other exploration hot-spots such as Canada.
<snip>

[Raster]

16. Let's see. They are a MINING company, meaning a fixed, non-moveable mine is their main resource.

It's not like they can just move their mine to Canada, eh?

[BrklynLiberal]

19. At least Canadians are getting a headsup that they should be on the watch for this band

of greedy SOBs.

[Raster]

25. I agree. However, I would ask the mining company to think this one through logically.

They may be leaving, the mine will be staying put.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. Nevermind. I was given a meesage that first post did not go thru..

Australia wants to impose a 40% windfall tax on the mining companies there. The biggest mining company Rio Tinto responded by saying it just might go elsewhere...."friendlier states" with all its money and power...


http://www.futurespros.com/news/commodities---futures-n...

<snip>
SYDNEY, May 24 (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto said it is reviewing all investments in Australia due to a proposed new tax, describing the country as its No.1 sovereign risk concern and sending a weak Australian dollar even lower.

Australia, which accounts for the bulk of Rio's revenue from iron ore, coal and other commodities, had been considered a top safe-haven investment destination for miners hunting the raw materials to fuel Asia's growth.

But plans by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to introduce a 40 percent tax on miners' so-called super profits has sparked high-stakes political battle ahead of a general election later this year.

"This is my number one sovereign risk issue on a global basis," Chief Executive Tom Albanese told reporters on Monday, noting that the tax had set up the prospect of a long period of uncertainty which was corrosive to new investment.

Albanese's remarks were seen as adding pressure on Canberra to scrap or alter the plan as government representatives enter a second week of industry consultations. Separate meetings late last week with Rio and BHP Billiton yielded no modifications.
<snip>
"We'd be asking our managers to evaluate it on a worst-case basis," he said, adding that capital would shift in the meantime to other exploration hot-spots such as Canada.
<snip>

[mulsh]

15. When do you think they'll change their name & logo?

I'm betting it will happen eventually. They've pulled their "Beyond Petroleum" ads.

That sure is a "big and important" threat from that company. I wonder how "big and important" the US market is to BP.

And I wonder what the name change ad campaign will be. I'm betting they'll get contemporary archetypes who will make marginally intelligent sounding statements about the oil industry.

[BrklynLiberal]

18. No question of if...just when...as you said.

[boppers]

20. A Brit challenging Americans?

Is he History-impaired or something?

[ProudDad]

21. Ok, don't buy BP gas...in fact...

Drive less -- starve the whole sick, twisted lot of them...

Carpool...

Ride your bike...

Walk...

POWER DOWN www.transitionus.org

[scentopine]

22. We should waterboard him because he is clearly

withholding material information on a major threat to the united states, starting with the volume of oil spilling into the gulf. We have a reason to keep gitmo open for skunks like this.

[name not needed]

23. Fine with me, provided they get the water from the Gulf of Mexico.

[Hugin]

27. ...

self-censored.

[TheWatcher]

24. Get yourself a good security detail, Carl.

And don't ever walk unattended anywhere on the Gulf Coast.

That, I can assure you, would be a one way trip.

You stupid fucks should live the rest of your lives in fear.

[Hugin]

26. Two first names? Golly, he MUST be rich.

My folks could only afford a first initial.