Registration Document 2005 - Total.com

31. Other information
A. Research and Development costs
The Group strategy of research and development is focused on the
three segments of activity, principally in the following areas:
•
•
•
exploration-production technology allowing the access, at
acceptable cost, to new energy resources (high pressurehigh
temperature, deep offshore, heavy crude oils, polyphasic
transportation, acidic gas) as well as environmental-friendly
technologies such as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,
capture and sequestration of CO 2 produced by our units,
containment of acidic gas emissions, and efficient use of water
in the upstream industrial process;
refining technology allowing the identification, the anticipation, and
the reduction of constraints linked to the operation of the facilities,
the evolution of specifications and the control of environmental
emissions, among other by exploitation of biofuels and more
generally bioenergy and marketing technology allowing the
creation of innovative formulations of products representing sales
opportunities;
chemical processes allowing a stronger competitiveness,
quality, safety and respect of environment, in particular of the
following themes: new catalysts technology, new polymerization
technologies, new products (biodegradable polymers and
biopolymers, elastomers, anti-vibration systems, new coatings)
as well as the nano-technologies.
Research and development costs incurred by the Group during
the 2005 accounting period amounted to 676 million euros,
corresponding to 0.5% of the turnover.
The staff dedicated in 2005 to these research and development
activities is estimated at 5,312 people.
Appendix 1 – Consolidated financial statements
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 9
B. Taxes paid to Middle East oil-producing countries for the
portion which TOTAL held historically as concessions
Taxes paid for the portion that TOTAL held historically as concessions
(Abu Dhabi offshore and onshore, Dubai offshore, Oman and
Abu Al Bu Khoosh) included in operating expenses amounted to
2,242 million euros in 2005 (1,487 million euros in 2004).
C. CO quotas
2
The principles governing the accounting for CO quotas are
2
presented in note 1T to the consolidated financial statements.
At December 31, 2005, the CO 2 quotas delivered to Group sites
were sufficient with respect to the emissions in 2005. Thus, the
Group recognized no provisions for allowances to be returned.
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