A non-conventional energy future
Christophe de MargerieChairman and Chief Executive Officer, Total S.A.
The APPEA Journal 52(3) - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ11128
Published: 30 June 2012
Abstract
Oil and gas will continue to play a leading role in the world energy supply for a long time to come. However, the nature of this supply will evolve with shale gas, coalbed methane and oil sands taking an ever increasing share of the supply mix, LNG becoming increasingly a global commodity and ever increasing technological challenges needing to be overcome. This new supply paradigm will mean that the oil and gas industry and host countries alike will need to adapt to achieve success. The success of these new projects rests upon the excellence of operatorship, a strict control over operating costs and a stable tax and legal framework. Maintaining competitiveness is also key, since with growing LNG production, the gas market is becoming more integrated and global, and thus producing countries are competing with each other. Additionally, with the growth of these “unconventional” resources, our industry is moving more and more into areas where we must co-exist with other stakeholders. So to retain its license to operate, our industry must do its best to be “accepted” by these stakeholders. Certain techniques used for unconventional and conventional developments, such as deep offshore or hydraulic fraccing, arouse misunderstanding or even distrust within the community. To regain confidence, our operations must meet the highest safety and environmental standards. We have to explain clearly and openly the scope of our projects, their impact for the local environment and their contribution to local development. This shall be based upon a real dialog with the communities concerned.
Christophe de Margerie was born in 1951. He joined the Group in 1974 after graduating from the École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris, a French business school. He served in several positions in the Group’s Finance Department and Exploration & Production division. He became President of Total Middle East in 1995 before joining the Group’s Executive Committee as the President of the Exploration & Production division in May 1999. In 2000, he was appointed Senior Executive Vice President of the Exploration & Production division of the newly created TotalFinaElf group. In January 2002, he became President of the Exploration & Production division of TotalFinaElf, which became Total in 2003. Following the 12 May 2006 shareholders’ meeting, he was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of Total. On 14 February 2007, Christophe de Margerie became Chief Executive Officer of Total, chairing its Executive Committee. Following the 21 May 2010 shareholders’ meeting, he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors of Total. Christophe de Margerie is Knight of the Legion of Honour (Légion d’Honneur) and Officer of the National Order of Merit (Ordre National du Mérite)—two French National Orders. |
