RNS Number:0905S
Total S.A.
14 November 2003

 

                        Total Inaugurates First Wind Power Plant 
                     at the Les Flandres Refinery in Mardyck, France

Paris, November 14, 2003 - Thierry Desmarest, Chairman and CEO of Total, today
inaugurated the Group's first wind power plant.

The Total refinery complex in Mardyck, which is part of the Dunkirk Regional
Municipality, is now home to five of the latest-generation wind turbines with a
total installed capacity of 12 MW a year, equivalent to the household
electricity consumption of 15,000 individuals. The large turbines have blades 40
to 50 meters long and are installed on masts 80 to 95 meters high. The three
models selected combine high electrical output, a small footprint and low noise
levels. For this pilot project it has been decided to compare three different
manufacturers and to experiment these extremely powerful wind powers that
prefigure in future major offshore and onshore developments.

The Mardyck wind power plant has been designed to supply electricity for several
decades and must therefore blend into the regional fabric. Detailed studies
concerning the environment, noise, visual integration, safety and local economic
activity were conducted in cooperation with concerned regional stakeholders and
authorities. Regular information meetings with the neighbors have been held
since the project was launched and letters are sent to them at each project
milestone.

The Mardyck wind power plant represents an investment of around Euro15 million. The
output is sold to French electric utility Electricite de France, which
distributes the power regionally via the public grid, under terms and conditions
determined by the authorities for wind power.

Total, a multi-energy company focusing primarily on oil and natural gas, is also
committed to developing renewable energy sources. The Group intends to rapidly
capitalize on its experience in wind power by participating in future onshore
and offshore projects. In this way, Total will contribute to helping European
Union member States achieve their renewable energy targets.

Total is the fourth largest oil and gas company in the world with operations in
more than 130 countries. Total's activities cover the whole energy chain of the
petroleum industry, exploration, oil and gas production, refining and marketing,
trading and power generation. The Group is also a major player in chemicals
through its chemicals branch, Atofina. Total has 121,500 employees worldwide.
More information can be found on the company's website: www.total.com

                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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