Total Plans to Invest More Than 1 Billion Euros in France to Adapt and Consolidate Its Refining and Petrochemicals Operations and Pursue Its Growth in Solar Energy
PARIS--March 10 2009 --In a challenging economic environment, Total (Paris:FP) (LSE:TTA) (NYSE:TOT) is continuing to work to secure the future. As part of its efforts to do so, upgrading of its industrial base remains a priority. The Group has therefore planned to invest more than 1 B€ in refining, petrochemicals and solar energy in France.
The planned investments will create an average of over 1,000 jobs a year between 2009 and 2011, which will have a significant impact on economic activity and employment of the regions concerned.
Total is also pursuing its growth in solar energy and, in partnership with GDF Suez, it plans to build a plant in the Carling region in eastern France to manufacture silicon wafers for the photovoltaic industry. The initial investment for the plant, which will employ approximately 100 people, is estimated at 70 M€.
The Refining & Marketing division and Total Petrochemicals France plans were submitted to the Central Works Councils concerned today.
No layoffs are planned. Over a period of more than three years ending in mid-2013, the workforce will be gradually rescaled, by 555 positions, through internal placement, retirements, a dedicated early retirement plan, and the introduction of a furlough system.
Total (Paris:FP) (LSE:TTA) (NYSE:TOT) is a leading global oil and gas company with operations in more than 130 countries. Its 96,000 employees put their expertise to work across the industry, from exploration and production of oil and natural gas to refining and marketing to gas, power and trading. It is also a world-class chemical producer. Total is working to keep the world supplied with energy, both today and tomorrow. www.total.com
Adapting Total’s Refining Base in France
Total Refining & Marketing division today announced an industrial plan at a special meeting of the Central Works Council to adapt its refining base in France, primarily by reconfiguring the Normandy refinery and rescaling certain corporate departments at its Paris headquarters.
The Normandy refinery project will shift the production emphasis to diesel, as oil consumption diminishes and gasoline surpluses increase in France. Some 770 M€ will be spent to upgrade and reconfigure the facility, reducing its refining capacity to 12 million metric tons a year from 16 million tons. At the same time, the distillate hydrocracker (DHC) commissioned in 2006, which enables diesel production, will be upsized.
These investments will lift the annual average diesel output by 10% and reduce surplus gasoline output by 60%. A significant number of jobs will be created for the contractors who perform the necessary work. The reconfiguration will also reduce carbon emissions from the refinery by approximately 25%, or 1 million tons a year.
Total is not planning any layoffs and is committed to finding appropriate solutions for the employees concerned by the 249 jobs that will be lost by 2013, with an emphasis on internal placement.
Implementation of this project, which is concurrent with but not linked to the Total Petrochemicals France plan, is subject to prior consultation with employee representatives from the Unit of Economic and Employee Interest of the Downstream segment.
Upgrading and Consolidation at Total Petrochemicals France
At a special meeting of the Central Works Council today, Total Petrochemicals France presented a plan to upgrade its most efficient units and consolidate the company to safeguard its competitiveness, in response to the structural deterioration of its markets, which are burdened with lasting overcapacity.
As part of the project, approximately 230 M€ will be invested to bring to the most efficient level the energy efficiency and competitive strength of the steamcracker and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit in Gonfreville and to consolidate polystyrene production at the Carling facility.
It will also lead to the closure of structurally loss-making units — a low-density polyethylene line in Carling in eastern France and a low-density polyethylene line and a polystyrene line in Gonfreville in northwestern France. The plan will streamline production facility organization, concentrate customer technical support ─ currently provided in part from Mont in southwestern France ─ at the Feluy complex in Belgium, and rescale Paris headquarters operations to the company’s new scope. The Lacq Research Center in southwestern France will be expanded to focus on state-of-the-art activities for all of Total’s businesses.
Furthermore, following the sole customer’s termination of the supply contract for secondary butyl alcohol produced at the Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon facility in northwestern France, Total Petrochemicals France will have to close this dedicated facility.
Total is not planning any layoffs and is committed to finding appropriate solutions for the employees concerned by the 306 jobs that will be lost through 2012, with an emphasis on internal placement.
Implementation of this project, which is concurrent with but not linked to the Total Refining & Marketing plan, is subject to prior consultation with employee representatives from Total Petrochemicals France.
TOTAL2, place Jean MillierLa Défense 692 400 Courbevoie FranceFax: + 33 (0) 1 47 44 68 21
TOTAL S.A.Capital 5 929 520 185 euros542 051 180 R.C.S. Nanterre
www.total.com
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