Arbitral Award

Total S.A.
03 April 2006


          TOTAL SATISFIED BY THE ARBITRAL AWARD IN ITS DISPUTE WITH
                         SCH CONCERNING CEPSA

April 3, 2006 - The Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI) delivered  today its
decision to both parties, Santander Central Hispano (SCH) and  Total, in the
arbitration.

Total acknowledges the work of the arbitrators appointed by the NAI in their
analysis of this litigation and is satisfied with the principal decisions of the
award:

- SCH's failure to comply with its contractual and legal obligation to act in
  good faith;

- the return to Total of its 8.31% interest in Cepsa currently held via Somaen
  Dos, a holding company in which SCH and Total are shareholders;

- the recognition of Total's right to exercise its call option against SCH over
  4.35% of Cepsa at a price estimated today at below 5 euros per share;

The award rendered by the NAI will be supplemented in due course by a decision
concerning notably the damages to be borne by SCH.

Total is very satisfied to be the shareholder of reference of Cepsa, the 2nd
Spanish oil and gas company and plans to continue to support the development of
this company.

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.
Total has more than 111,000 employees worldwide. More information can be found
on the company's website: www.total.com





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