LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) - British oil company BP wants Prime Minister David Cameron to intervene with the U.S.government over the escalating cost of compensating U.S.companies for the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster in 2010, the BBCreported Thursday.
BP is still fighting a court battle in New Orleans overfines and other potential spill liabilities, but it struck adeal last year with a wide range of compensation claimants,including businesses.
The total amount was not set, and BP has set aside over $8billion to make the payments, but it now sees those businesseconomic loss (BEL) payments escalating, and is challenging theway they are being calculated - calling some of the claims"fictitious" and "absurd".
It has already lost one appeal to have the payments stoppedand now plans to go to a higher court.