The Guardian: Leading oil industrialist accuses BP of spurning its lead role in the North Sea

Alexander Temerko, a leading oil industrialist in Britain, has launched a stinging attack on BP, accusing it of abandoning its lead role in the North Sea in favour of championing the interests of Russia.

With the European Union threatening new sanctions on Russian, the director of Newcastle-based offshore engineering and construction group, OGN, says the British-based oil company has lost interest in its home base since taking a 20% interest in Kremlin-controlled Rosneft.

"BP used to be a strong voice for the North Sea but now it is very, very soft. The only time you really hear the voice of BP is when it is warning about sanctions being imposed on Russia," said Temerko.

"BP was a champion of North Sea investment but it has gradually sold off many of its assets to foreign companies such as Apache and Talisman while putting its money into Russia with Rosneft. You should call it Russian Petroleum not British Petroleum."
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