20th Jun 2006 13:20
Total S.A.19 June 2006 Inauguration of Euskadour Gas Interconnector between France and Spain Paris, June 19, 2006 - The Euskadour pipeline interconnecting the gas grids inthe Basque regions of France and Spain was inaugurated today. The ceremony wasattended by Jose Montilla Aguilera, Spain's Minister of Industry, Tourism andTrade, Francois Loos, France's Minister of Industry, and Juan Jose Ibarretxe,President of the Basque Autonomous Community. Construction of the pipeline by Total Infrastructures Gaz France (TIGF), a Totalsubsidiary, and Naturgas Energia began in November 2004 and was completed inlate 2005. The 28-kilometer long Euskadour interconnector will initially carryaround 500 million cubic metres of natural gas a year on both sides of thePyrenees, equivalent to the consumption of the French city of Bordeaux. During the inauguration ceremony, Yves-Louis Darricarrere, President, Total Gas& Power, said: "The interconnector will improve gas service for publicdistribution companies from Bayonne to Hendaye and will have a direct impact onconsumers in the French Basque region. But this infrastructure project is justone of many that Total is developing in southern France to enhance security ofsupply and seamless operation of the deregulated gas market." Total is currently involved in three major gas projects in France, for a totalinvestment of €550 million over the next five years. First, it is taking part inthe construction of the new Fos Cavaou LNG terminal, with a capacity of 8.25billion cubic metres per year. Then, to carry the liquefied natural gasoffloaded in Fos, Total will complete the doubling of the Artere de Guyennepipeline from Lussagnet across the Dordogne River. Last, subject to thenecessary administrative approvals, the capacity of the Lussagnet natural gasstorage facility will be expanded to 3.5 billion cubic metres from 2.4 billioncubic metres. Total is one of the world's major oil and gas groups, with activities in morethan 130 countries. Its 95,000 employees put their expertise to work in everypart of the industry - exploration and production of oil and natural gas,refining and marketing, gas trading and electricity. Total is working to keepthe world supplied with energy, both today and tomorrow. The Group is also afirst rank player in chemicals, www.total.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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