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Last Updated:
2024-09-22 08:20:01

TotalEnergies

French multinational energy company
French multinational energy company

TotalEnergies, founded in 1924, is a major player in oil, gas, power generation, and chemicals. Headquartered in Paris, it is listed on Euro Stoxx 50.

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1921
TotalEnergies founded

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

1922
Founding of the Company

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

1924-03-28
TotalEnergies' Founding

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.

1927
Company's First Steps in Oil Production in Iraq

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

1929
Total brand of gasoline introduced in Africa and Europe

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.

1937
Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC) signs oil concession agreement with the Sultan of Muscat

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.

1968
Arson attack on TotalEnergies' Specialty Fluids production facility

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

1971
Total entered the United States

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.

1985
Total CFP renamed to Total

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

1989
Total acquires 100% of HSD

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

1993
Total Petroleum operated 2,600 retail stores under various brands

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

1997
Total sold its North American refining and retail operations to Ultramar Diamond Shamrock

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.

1999-12-12
MV Erika Oil Spill

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.

1999-12-13
Sinking of the Erika Oil Tanker

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.

2000
Total merged with Elf Aquitaine

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

2001-09-21
Toulouse Ammonium Nitrate Explosion

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.

2003
Total signed a 30% stake in gas exploration venture in Saudi Arabia

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.

2004
Total Fluids is established

In 2004, Total Solvants was rebranded as Total Fluids.

2006
Saudi Aramco and Total established SATORP joint venture

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

2008-12-16
Arrest of Total executives in Italy for corruption

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.

2010
Total accused of bribing Iraqi officials

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.

2011
Total acquires 60% of SunPower

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

2013
Settlement of Total bribery case in Iran

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.

2014-10-20
CEO of Total S.A. Christophe de Margerie died in a plane crash

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

2015
Total job cuts and asset sales in the UK

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.

2016-02-26
Total found guilty of corruption in Iraq

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.

2017
Total and National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) sign contract for South Pars gas field development

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.

2018
Total withdraws from Iranian South Pars gas field

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.

2019
Total's Contribution to Notre-Dame Cathedral Reconstruction

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.

2020
TotalEnergies Transition Strategy Implementation

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.

2021-07
Total Fluids becomes TotalEnergies Fluids

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

2022-03-01
TotalEnergies announces halt of new projects in Russia

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.

2022-03-11
Total's Operations in Russia

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

2023-03-30
Total's LNG Trade with CNOOC

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.

2024-03-28
TotalEnergies' 100th Anniversary Celebration

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.

2024-04-05
100 years of TotalEnergies – a dark legacy

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

2024-04-08
TotalEnergies SE All-Time High Stock Price

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

2050
Goal to Reach Net Zero by 2050

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.

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TotalEnergies
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