Fines for oil blast criticised

BRITISH campaigners and politicians yesterday criticised the “leniency” of multimillion pound fines imposed on the companies responsible for the Buncefield oil depot explosion in 2005.

Five companies were ordered to pay almost £10 million (€11.8m) in combined fines and costs following the blast – the largest in peacetime Europe.

Total UK were fined £3.6m (€4.3m) plus £2.6m (€3.1) costs; Hertfordshire Oil Storage Limited (HOSL) £1.45m (€1.7m) plus £1m (€1.2m) costs; and British Pipeline Agency (BPA) Ltd £300,000 (€355,000) plus £480,000 (€570,000) costs.