BP buys Woolworths Australian gas stations for US$1.3bil

British oil firm BP Plc said it had alerted customers to a "force majeure event" at one of its suppliers.

SYDNEY: BP Plc will pay A$1.785bil (US$1.3bil) for Woolworths Ltd’s network of Australian gas stations in a deal that will cement the London-based oil company as one of the nation’s biggest fuel providers.

The British energy company will acquire 527 fuel outlets that are currently supplied by rival Caltex Australia Ltd as well as 16 development sites, according to a statement yesterday from Sydney-based supermarket owner Woolworths. BP already owns 350 retail locations across Australia and supplies fuel to an additional 1,000 outlets owned by independent business partners, according to a separate statement from the oil company.