BP oil spill fallout has cost the company $6.1 bn so far

The Mexican Gulf disaster, which attracted widespread criticism from the US government, also cost BP's embattled CEO Tony Hayward his job. "The cost of response to date amounts to approximately USD 6.1 billion, including the cost of the spill response, containment, relief well drilling, static kill and cementing, grants to the Gulf states, claims paid, and federal costs," BP said in a statement today.

Till August 7, the company had received 145,000 claims and over 103,900 payments worth USD 319 million have been made. About 30,800 personnel are still involved in the clean up operations.

Under pressure from the Obama government, BP unveiled a USD 20 billion fund in June to meet the obligations arising out of the oil spill on April 20, after an explosion on board the company's drilling rig. It claimed 11 lives. About 4.9 million barrels of oil spilled into the sea before the leak from the well was stopped on July 15.

Ravaged by the spill, the British energy major slumped into a staggering loss of USD 17.15 billion in the three months ending June 2010. In July, BP announced that Hayward would step down as Group CEO from October 1. He would be replaced by fellow executive director Robert Dudley.