MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

France's Total purchased lubricant plant in Chile

France's TOTAL, one of the world's largest oil companies, confirmed its purchase of the Chilean lubricant plant Castrol. TOTAL currently supplies Chile with 3% of its oil consumption, a figure that will grow as a result of the Castrol purchase.

"Until now TOTAL Chile was limited to distribution activity," said company CEO Miguel Cañamero. "But from now on we are going to produce energy. The French headquarters trusts us [to do this by ourselves]." In Europe, TOTAL has been charged with several environmental crimes (oil slicks) and for corruption. The best known eco-catastrophe occurred in December, 1999 when oil tanker Erika spilled 19,000 tons of petroleum along the French Atlantic coast and then sank. The resulting oil slick damaged 400 kilometers of coastline and killed some 150,000 seagulls. A trial was held in February, 2007, but the final judgment has to be announced. Still, the oil company has been condemned to pay a 350,000 Euro fine for negligence. It is the first time in French judicial history that a court recognized environmental damage. TOTAL merged with French oil companies Fina and Elf in 1999 to form the world's fourth largest oil group. One of the biggest financial-political inquiries was launched in 1994 when the group was accused of embezzling 300 million Euros and of corruption in western Africa. Twelve executives were fined and ordered to pay back the bribe money. One has gone AWOL and another has yet to pay his fine, although he remains free. The Santiago Times