Paris, June 24, 2004 - Total has been awarded a new exploration license in Norway’s 18th licensing round.

The approximately 900-square-kilometer license, which comprises Blocks 6406/7 and 6406/8, is located in the Haltenbanken area of the Norwegian Sea in water depths ranging from 300 to 380 meters. Total is the operator with a 40% interest; its co-venturers are Shell, Statoil and Eni.

Total is a top-tier international oil and gas producer in Norway, with output of 405,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2003.