Statement re Erika

Total Fina S.A.
30 December 1999



             TOTALFINA will finance the pumping of the Erika

      TOTALFINA will set up an emergency fund to assist cleaning up the shore

TOTALFINA, which has worked with the authorities since the beginning within the
framework of the Polmar Mer and Polmar Terre plans, has accelerated and
strengthened its involvement by making the following two commitments:

1.  TOTALFINA will finance the pumping of the Erika wreckage

TOTALFINA will directly finance the pumping of the fuel oil contained in the
Erika  wreckage. This will enable the compensation budget from insurers and the
IOPC-International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (which amounts to FRF 1.2
billion or EUR 183 million) to be dedicated first to indemnifying people who
have suffered economic damage and to reimbursing costs incurred in cleaning up
sea and land pollution. TOTALFINA will provide assistance so that operations are
carried out under the best technical conditions and in a timely manner, subject
to weather conditions.

2.  TOTALFINA will set up a FRF 40 million (EUR 6.1 million) emergency fund
    to assist cleaning up the shore

This fund will be allocated to two programs conducted in agreement with
authorities in the affected districts and regions.

The programs will cover:

-   purchase of equipment to collect, store and evacuate pollution,

-   provision of qualified teams specialized in cleaning up oil pollution
    and evacuating waste. TOTALFINA has already contacted several companies in  
   this respect, so that people and technical resources can be provided next    
  week.

Cleaning up will be done with full respect of the  environment. Particular
attention will be paid to the work performed on the islands, because of their
delicate eco-systems.

TOTALFINA notes that since the accident took place, the Group has promptly
answered all requests for specialists, equipment and products from authorities
in the affected regions.

TOTALFINA will also put into place programs for restoring the ecological balance
with the assistance of local communities and environmental protection
organizations,  This long-term initiative will begin as soon as the shores are
cleaned up.