Huge blast rocks BP plant in US

AT least 14 people are feared dead and more than 100 injured following a major explosion at a BP oil refinery in Texas. The plant, which processes 433,000 barrels of crude oil a day, is America's third-biggest refinery. It accounts for about 3% of US oil supplies and is BP's biggest operation in the US.

The company said the cause of the explosion was not immediately known but safety investigators are combing the 1,200 acre site for clues.

Terrorism has been ruled out although the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned oil companies a year ago that their refineries could be vulnerable to sabotage.

Eye witnesses said the explosion showered the surrounding area with ash and chunks of charred metal. Most of the injured suffered broken bones, cuts and concussion.

The blast was so powerful that it rattled windows in homes five miles from the plant. The explosion was in a part of the plant used to boost the octane level of fuel. A BP spokesman rejected fears of pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, adding that damage had been contained.

The plant in Texas City is about 35 miles south east of Houston and comprises 30 refinery units with some 1,800 people working on site. It has been the subject of several previous safety probes following earlier problems.

An explosion at the same plant in March forced the evacuation of the refinery in March. The refinery was later fined $63,000 by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration for safety violations, including problems with its emergency shutdown system and employee training. The refinery was also fined by the OSHA after two employees were burned to death by supe-heated water in September.

The explosion plant came too late to affect gasoline futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange, where they were unchanged at $1.5749 but oil futures prices were 2 cents higher in electronic trading on the news. Analysts speculated that petrol prices could rise if the explosion disrupts US supplies.

Texas City is also the site of the worst industrial accident in US history. In 1947, a fire on board a ship at the City docks triggered a massive explosion that killed 576 people and left fires burning for days.

BP shares fell 6p to 549½p, in early trading.