TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies, formerly known as Total, was founded in 1921.

The Company was founded in 1922 and has been driven by the boldness, passion, and commitment of generations of women and men.

On March 28, 1924, Compagnie Française des Pétroles was founded in France, despite the country not having any oil resources. This marked the beginning of a century-long journey for TotalEnergies, which would expand globally to secure France's energy supply.

The company began its oil production operations in Iraq in 1927, marking the start of its journey in the oil industry.

In 1929, the Total brand of gasoline was introduced by Compagnie française des pétroles (CFP) in Africa and Europe, marking an expansion of its downstream products.

In 1937, Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC), in which Total had a 23.75 percent ownership, signed an oil concession agreement with the Sultan of Muscat to raise an armed force for occupying the interior region of Oman, believed to be rich in oil.

In 1968, an arson attack occurred on TotalEnergies' Specialty Fluids production facility, leading to the transfer of production to the Normandy refinery.

In 1971, Total entered the United States by acquiring Leonard Petroleum of Alma, Michigan and several Standard Oil of Indiana stations in Metro Detroit, expanding its presence in the American market.

In 1985, Total CFP was renamed to Total to capitalize on the popularity of its gasoline brand, marking a significant rebranding effort.

In 1989, Total acquired 100% of HSD, leading to the establishment of Total Solvants.

By 1993, Total Petroleum was managing 2,600 retail stores under Vickers, Apco, Road Runner, and Total brands in North America.

In 1997, Total sold its North American refining and retail operations to Ultramar Diamond Shamrock for $400 million in stock and $414 million in assumed debt.

On December 12, 1999, the MV Erika, an oil tanker chartered by Total, sank off the coast of Northern France, spilling 20,000 tons of heavy fuel oil across 400 km of coastline. The incident caused major environmental damage and resulted in the death of over 200,000 birds.

The Maltese registered oil tanker Erika sank off the French coast near Brest, leading to a major environmental disaster. Total was found guilty and convicted of 'gross negligence' by French courts in relation to this incident.

In 2000, Total merged with Elf Aquitaine, forming TotalFinaElf which later reverted to Total in 2003.

In 2001, a tragic incident occurred in Toulouse, France, where 31 people lost their lives and over 2,500 were injured due to the explosion of 400 tons of ammonium nitrate in a factory owned by a Total subsidiary. This disaster was the most severe industrial accident in France in half a century, leading to an 18-year legal battle before Total's subsidiary was found guilty.

In 2003, Total signed for a 30% stake in the gas exploration venture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia along with Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Aramco.

In 2004, Total Solvants was rebranded as Total Fluids.

In 2006, Saudi Aramco and Total established a joint venture called Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company (SATORP) in Saudi Arabia.

On December 16, 2008, the managing director of the Italian division of Total, Lionel Levha, and ten other executives were arrested in Italy for a corruption charge of €15 million related to an oilfield contract in Basilicata.

In 2010, Total was accused of bribing Iraqi officials during Saddam Hussein's regime to secure oil supplies. A United Nations report later confirmed the bribery scandal involving oil contracts worth over $10 billion.

In 2011, Total agreed to buy 60% of photovoltaics company SunPower for US$1.38 billion.

In 2013, Total settled a case involving bribery of an Iranian official with $60 million to gain access to Iran's oil and gas fields. The Securities Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice settled the charges, with Total expected to pay $398 million.

On October 20, 2014, CEO of Total S.A. Christophe de Margerie died in a plane crash at Vnukovo International Airport.

In 2015, Total revealed plans to reduce 180 jobs in the United Kingdom, decrease refinery capacity, and sell $5 billion worth of assets globally after experiencing a $5.7 billion loss in the final quarter.

On February 26, 2016, the Paris Court of Appeals ruled Total guilty of corrupting Iraqi civil servants and ordered the company to pay a fine of €750,000, overturning an earlier acquittal in the case.

In 2017, Total and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) signed a contract for the development and production of South Pars, the world's largest gas field, with a production capacity of 2 billion cubic feet per day.

In 2018, Total officially pulled out from the Iranian South Pars gas field due to pressure from US sanctions. This decision marked a significant shift in Total's international operations.

In 2019, Total's CEO, Patrick Pouyanne, pledged a €100 million contribution towards the reconstruction of the Notre-Dame cathedral after it suffered extensive damage in a fire.

Since 2020, TotalEnergies has been resolutely implementing a transition strategy focused on hydrocarbons (including LNG) and electricity to support customers in achieving their own transitions. The goal is to supply affordable energy for global development while reducing emissions, aligning with the 'just, orderly and equitable' transition called for by COP28.

In July 2021, Total Fluids underwent a name change to become TotalEnergies Fluids.

On March 1, 2022, TotalEnergies announced it will no longer fund new projects in Russia following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, retaining ownership of certain stakes. This decision faced criticism for not going far enough compared to other companies.

As of 11 March 2022, Total was one of the few Western oil companies still operating in Russia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On 30 March 2023, Total conducted a significant LNG trade with CNOOC, sourcing LNG from the UAE and settling the trade in Chinese yuan on the SHPGX.

TotalEnergies' 100,000 employees in 120 countries worldwide are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the company's creation on March 28, 2024. The history of TotalEnergies reflects the evolution of the world and energy over the past century.

TotalEnergies celebrates its 100th anniversary, reflecting on its history which includes controversial and negative aspects.

The all-time high TotalEnergies SE stock closing price was 73.67 on April 08, 2024.

The company has set a goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050, aligning with the global efforts to combat climate change and transition to a sustainable energy future.