Date: 26/11 2002

TGS-NOPEC Comments Further on Western Sahara Activity

Naersnes, Norway, November 25, 2002 -

Recently TGS-NOPEC has been the primary target of a publicity campaign
organized by certain political interest groups in Norway concerning the
Company's previously announced activity off the coast of North West Africa. A
number of resulting media publications contain statements about TGS-NOPEC and
its activity that are based on assumptions, speculation about future events,
and innuendo as opposed to facts. The following statements document the
relevant facts.

In November, 2001 the government of Morocco granted two oil companies
reconnaissance licenses to evaluate the potential for hydrocarbons in the
offshore areas of Boujdour and Dakhla in the Non-Self-Governing Territory of
Western Sahara. These licenses contain provisions for collection and analysis
of seismic data as a means to make preliminary evaluations of the geology of
the areas.

The United Nations Security Council has considered and published an opinion on
the issues surrounding the license contracts held by the oil companies. In a
letter dated January 29, 2002, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs,
the Legal Counsel to the President of the Security Council, stated that the
contracts were legal. The letter clarified that in the present case, the
contracts for oil reconnaissance and evaluation do not entail exploitation or
the physical removal of the mineral resources. The letter also states that if
further exploration and exploitation activities were to proceed, they would
have to be in the interests and wishes of the people of Western Sahara. The
full text of this letter can be viewed at: http://www.arso.org/UNlegaladv.htm

Following the published opinion by the United Nations, the two oil companies
initiated a competitive bid process for contracts to perform the physical
collection of the seismic data. TGS-NOPEC participated in this bid process,
and was subsequently selected from a group of several bidding seismic
companies to perform the work. Upon award of the bid TGS-NOPEC commenced
acquisition of seismic data in May of 2002. TGS-NOPEC disclosed its
involvement in these projects with press releases in May and June of 2002, as
well as in statements from the Chairman at its Annual General Shareholders
Meeting in Oslo on June 11, 2002.

As of today, TGS-NOPEC's field operations are approximately 90% complete. The
Company is contractually bound to its customers to complete this work and
fully intends to fulfill its contractual obligations. TGS-NOPEC has no
agreement to participate in, or profit from, any future exploratory drilling
or any production or exploitation of mineral resources of the area.

The Board of TGS-NOPEC believes that the Company has operated responsibly and
ethically on this matter, within the realm of international law and according
to United Nations guidance.


For additional information about this news release please contact:

Arne Helland, CFO
Telephone: +47-31-29-20-00 / +47-91-88-78-29
arne@...
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URL: http://www.tgsnopec.no/whatsnew/western_sahara_comments.htm
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See also:
- "Protests against "illegal" oil exploration off Western Sahara":
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/message/384
- "Oil Deal Will Lead To War":
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/message/436
- "On dangerous ground: Kerr-McGee and TotalFinaElf should do a u-turn off
Morocco": http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/message/554
- "OIL FUELS TENSION IN NORTH AFRICA":
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/message/596
- "PRESS RELEASE: Polisario condemns Norwegian company's collaboration with
Morocco in Western Sahara":
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/message/804
- "Press release: Open letter to the shareholders and management of
TGS-NOPEC":
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/message/819
- "Protests against Norwegian oil exploration in Western Sahara":
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/message/820
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Readers of Nordic languages may see some but not all of the many recent
Norwegian articles here:
http://search.kvasir.no/query?q=Vest-Sahara&pg=q&what=news

Kartlegger okkupert farvann, Klassekampen, 7. juni, 2002, Oslo, Norway
http://www.klassekampen.no/nyheter/Dette_er_ogsa_Olje-Norge/3505

Folketrygdfondet trekker seg [ikke], Klassekampen, 12. juni, 2002, Oslo,
Norway
http://www.klassekampen.no/nyheter/Dette_er_ogsa_Olje-Norge/3506
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Forwarded by:
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Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
wsahara@...

*** Referendum now! ***
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update
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