The 20th century's primary engine of industrial growth, oil quickly became the reigning fossil fuel, a category that comprises oil, coal and natural gas. A concentrated, liquid form of energy, petroleum is easy to store and transport and has many applications. It can be used to produce automotive and aviation fuel, to heat homes and other buildings and to fire power plants. Lubricants - oil, grease and wax - bitumen and asphalt, plastics, synthetic fibers, solvents and other products are derived from it.

Oil's preeminence in the global energy mix will remain unchallenged in the foreseeable future. According to the International Energy Agency, which predicts that primary energy demand will climb more than 50% by 2030, demand for oil will continue to rise, in no small part to satisfy China and India's thirst for energy. Oil is expected to meet about one-third of the world's primary energy needs in 2030, the same as it does today.

With operations in over 130 countries, Total is a global oil industry leader. Our size and performance rank us as one the top five global oil companies, known as the majors. Consumers know us primarily from our service station networks. But they are just one link in the end-to-end oil and gas chain spanned by our operations, which range from exploration to marketing to end consumers. A crude oil explorer and producer and top-ranked global oil and petroleum products trader, we are also a leading refiner and petrochemical manufacturer whose products include automotive fuels, lubricants and liquefied petroleum gas.