The Nigerian Upstream Companies of Total (Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited (EPNL), Total Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) are focussing on Increased Tempo in the Oil and Gas Sector at this year's Offshore West Africa (OWA) Conference/Exhibition holding in Abuja from 14 th - 16 th March.

The companies' efforts in Nigeria have always been anchored on the tripod of Business, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Total's exploration/production profile centres around the desire of its upstream subsidiaries to continue being one of the most active companies to further explore and develop the potential of oil and gas in Nigeria, either on Deepwater or on JV Asset offshore and Onshore.

Other areas of increased tempo of activities include:

• Further development of OML 58, with the Upgrade Project, the O-U-R gas pipeline and the Obite Power Generation Programme.



• The installation of AMP2 process platform and the commencement of gas delivery from Amenam to Bonny LNG.



• Award of Ofon Phase 2 Project contracts for the construction of platforms.



• Increased mobilisation of huge technical and financial resources this year, so as to achieve the development of Akpo field on time and within budget.



• The finalization of the basic engineering of Usan will permit the launching of the call for tenders to meet on time the FID of this giant field.



• Entry into new phases of development for Nkarika and Edikan Water injection.



• Commencement of a planned massive (7,000 KM 2 ) 3D seismic campaign covering OPLs 221,222 and 223, which will be the biggest proprietary 3D acquisition in the Nigerian Oil Industry this year.



• Steady progress being made in Total's plan for a 400 MW Independent Power Plant (IPP) that will be entirely gas-driven.

Commenting on the thrust of this year's activities, the Managing Director, Mr Jacques Marraud des Grottes said: "This year will be a year of challenges and opportunities. The challenge will be to deliver on time and within budget the commitments we have taken with our shareholders, our JV partner, the NNPC and our PSC's Partners .

More than ever before, the culture of individual responsibility, accountability, initiatives and mutual respect will be key to achieve the levels of effectiveness that both our stakeholders expect from our company and our Group expects from every one of us. The message is to keep up building the Team Spirit based upon professionalism and solidarity that will enable our company to reach the ambitious targets which we have set for 2006 and beyond for the benefit of the Nation, our local environment, our company, its employees and shareholders".

EPNL recorded tremendous business successes last year with increase in its exploration and appraisal portfolio as well as the launching of the development projects of various offshore and deep offshore fields.

Its Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) record has shown significant improvement.

Each year, Total sponsors about five members of the academia and journalists each to this Conference as part of its contribution to promoting scholarship, capacity building and professionalism.