Oil giant faces extra pressure on green issues

Oil giant BP Amoco will face renewed pressure this week from environmental activists to show its commitment to renewable energy.

Greenpeace plans to use the company's annual general meeting at London's Royal Festival Hall on Thursday to question how the multinational will help reduce pollution.

It wants the firm to move from supplying fossil fuels to greener alternatives.

The environmental group has gained the support of the required number of shareholders to pass a resolution proposing BP publishes a report by the end of 2001 on how it will make the transition to renewable sources of energy.

Spokeswoman Stephanie Tunmore said: "This resolution will not be passed but that's not the point. It has put BP on the defensive and forced them to open up the debate to shareholders."

Campaigners claim the company still intends to spend 50 times more on its oil and gas business than on renewable energy over the next few years.

A BP spokesman said: "We have cut our emissions by 5% from 1990 levels and it is likely that another 5% will be achieved over the next three years or so."