OREANDA-NEWS. Total announces that it has finalized an agreement to sell a 25% interest in the Tempa Rossa field, located in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, to Mitsui E&P Italia A S.r.l. The Group is retaining a 50% interest in the Gorgoglione concession and operatorship. Shell holds the remaining 25%.

The transfer of interests will take effect after the Italian authorities have approved the transaction.

“We are very pleased with this transaction, which further strengthens the ties between Total and Mitsui," said Olivier de Langavant, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Business, Development and R&D at Total Exploration & Production. “It is another step toward achieving the asset disposal objectives announced by Total for the period 2012-2014."

The Tempa Rossa field is scheduled to come on stream in early 2016, producing 50,000 barrels of oil per day at plateau, along with 230,000 cubic meters of natural gas and 240 metric tons of LPG per day. Italy’s oil production will increase nearly 40% as a result.

The development represents an investment of €1.6 billion. Total awarded the EPC contracts in 2012.

Total is present across the oil value chain and in chemicals and photovoltaic solar energy in Italy. Total E&P Italia SpA, the Group’s local exploration and production affiliate, also has interests in five exploration licenses located in the same region as the Tempa Rossa project.

Total’s main presence in the Marketing & Services sector is through TotalErg, Italy’s number three petroleum product operator with a nearly 12% market share.