EC Merger Approval

Total Fina S.A.
9 February 2000


EUROPEAN COMMISSION APPROVES TOTALFINA-ELF AQUITAINE MERGER

The European Commission today approved the merger of Totalfina and Elf
Aquitaine.

As part of the approval procedure, Totalfina has made certain commitments
applicable exclusively in France. These commitments, which concern four  markets
that were examined by the Commission, will result in the following divestments:

-  70 service stations located on French highways will  be
   sold. Disposals will be divided equally between the two Groups' tradenames.

-  All or part of the interests held in three oil pipelines
   (Trapil, SPMR, DMM) and in 17 refined product storage depots will be sold.

-  Elf  Antargaz  and  Elf  Aquitaine's  associated   LPG logistical assets in  
  France will be sold.

-  Half  of  the supply infrastructure for  the  Lyon  and Toulouse airports    
  will be opened up to third parties.

These  transactions will maintain competition in each of the concerned  markets.
They  will  preserve  the  benefits  of the Totalfina-Elf  Aquitaine  merger  in
Exploration/Production  and  in  Chemicals,  and  most  of   the   benefits   in
Refining/Marketing.

The  European  Commission's approval now enables completion of the Totalfina-Elf
Aquitaine merger.

The  Board  of  Directors of Elf Aquitaine will meet on February 15  to  appoint
Thierry  Desmarest  as  a  Director and to appoint him  as  Chairman  and  Chief
Executive  Officer of Elf Aquitaine. The new Group's Executive Committee,  whose
composition  has  already been announced, will take up its duties  on  the  same
date.