Statement re Oil-for-Food

Total S.A.
20 October 2006


Paris, October 19, 2006 - As often referred to in the press, for over 2 years
the conditions for applying the United Nations sponsored oil-for-food program
have been the subject of different investigations.

On October 19, 2006 Mr. Christophe de Margerie, President Exploration and
Production for the Total Group and member of the Executive Committee, after
being held in custody for 48 hours, has been formally charged within the
framework of the investigation being held in Paris.

The Group would like to reassure Mr. de Margerie of its solidarity.

Total confirms that at no time did the Group circumvent the United Nations
embargo against Iraq and strictly adhered to the rules of the oil-for-food
program organised under the control of the United Nations. All oil acquired by
the company, without exception, was purchased officially with the required
authorisations under UN within the framework of the oil-for-food program put in
place in 1996. The Group has never purchased, either directly or indirectly, oil
that has been smuggled illegally from Iraq.

The Group reaffirms that it exercises its activities while respecting the law
and adhering to its ethical code and values regardless of the difficulty and the
complexity of its different activities.

Total is one of the world's major oil and gas groups, with activities in more
than 130 countries. Its 95,000 employees put their expertise to work in every
part of the industry - exploration and production of oil and natural gas,
refining and marketing, gas trading and electricity. Total is working to keep
the world supplied with energy, both today and tomorrow. The Group is also a
first rank player in chemicals.  www.total.com



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