Stmnt re BTC Pipeline Project

Total Fina Elf.
18 September 2002

 
              TotalFinaElf joins the BTC Pipeline Project

Paris, September 18, 2002 - TotalFinaElf confirms that it has acquired a 
participation of 5% in the BTC Pipeline Project which will link Baku in 
Azerbaijan to Ceyhan in Turkey. The BTC Pipeline construction was decided upon 
in August 2002.

TotalFinaElf participates in large exploration and production projects in the 
Caspian Sea area where hydrocarbon transportation is a key business driver for 
oil and gas activities. The Group has consistently followed a strategy promoting 
the development of multiple export routes for the crude oil produced in the 
Caspian area in order to increase security of export, stimulate competitiveness 
and provide access to a variety of markets.

The decision to join the BTC Pipeline Project is fully in line with this 
strategy and will provide TotalFinaElf access to export capacity for part of its 
future production from the Caspian area, notably Kazakhstan.



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