RNS Number:1274M
Total S.A.
10 June 2003


                             Total Energie, 
               Celebrating 20 Years of Photovoltaic Solar Energy

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Total's involvement in solar energy. 
Since it founded Total Energie, a unit specialized in solar power, in early 
summer 1983, the Group has become a front-ranking player in the field.

Total Energie assembles, distributes, installs and provides maintenance for 
solar panels and other equipment delivering photovoltaic electricity. The 
company is particularly active in four areas: pumping, commercial applications, 
isolated systems and grid connections.

Now a joint subsidiary of Total and French utility Electricite de France, Total 
Energie is based near Lyons, France, and generated sales of approximately Euro60
million in 2002. The company can leverage a network of around 15 subsidiaries,
mainly in the French overseas departments and territories, in African countries,
Madagascar and Germany.

Total Energie is currently taking part in two major rural electrification
programs, one in Morocco (16,000 households) and one in South Africa (15,000
households). These programs, deployed in isolated areas, will give access to
lighting and some appliances to thousands of people previously without
electricity.

Total Energie will also be building a solar panel production plant in Toulouse
with a capacity of 5 MW a year. The facility is scheduled to be commissioned in
early 2004. Its output will be sufficient to install solar panels on the roofs
of around 2,500 homes a year in Europe.

The creation of Total Energie 20 years ago was the starting point of Total's
commitment to developing applications for renewable energy. The Company
gradually extended its initiatives, mainly in wind and solar power. Total
inaugurated its first wind turbines at the Mardyck refinery, near Dunkirk,
France. In addition, Photovoltech, in which Total has a 42.5% interest, is
building a plant in Tienen, Belgium, scheduled for completion in early fall. The
facility will produce high-efficiency polycrystalline silicon-based photovoltaic
cells and have an annual capacity of close to 10 MW.    



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

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