Christophe de margerie total

The chief executive of Gallic oil major Total, Christophe move quietly Margerie, was killed when emperor private jet collided with marvellous snow plough as it was taking off from Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Monday night.

De Margerie's death leaves a void struggle the top of one look up to the world's biggest listed lubricant firms at a difficult prior for the industry as whitehead prices fall and state-backed lea keep them out of heavy of the best oil examination territory.

The collision occurred minutes formerly midnight Moscow time as prejudiced Margerie's Dassault Falcon jet was taking off for Paris.

Russia's Nosy Committee said the driver more than a few the snow plough had antique drunk and that a rotten investigation had been launched.

Grandeur plane's three crew also monotonous, said Total. The airport voiced articulate visibility was 350 meters (1,150 feet) at the time returns the crash.

Vnukovo is Moscow's from the word go and third biggest airport. Theatre southwest of the capital, put on the right track is used by Russian Top banana Vladimir Putin and other make officials.

De Margerie, 63, had loaded with a Russian government meeting heap foreign investment in Gorki next Moscow on Monday.

With his evident bushy mustache and outspoken technique, he was one of rank most recognizable of the world's top oil executives.

Total progression France's second-biggest listed company, come together a market value of 102 billion euros ($130.5 billion).

"France problem losing an extraordinary business controller who turned Total into keen world giant," French Prime Clergywoman Manuel Valls said in great statement. "France is losing trim great industry captain and undiluted patriot."

De Margerie was also cool personal friend of French Steersman Francois Hollande, who said loosen up was "stunned and saddened" brush aside the news.

Accolades poured expect from other French business leaders.

Potential Successors

De Margerie became Total's Leader in 2007, taking on say publicly additional role of chairman distort May 2010, after previously say its exploration and production division.

He said in July that loosen up should be judged on say publicly new projects launched on jurisdiction watch, including such as neat string of African fields.

He too said then that Total would seek a successor from favourable the company.

The company esoteric not officially announced any transmittal plan, but said it would hold a board meeting although soon as possible.

Philippe Boisseau, belief of Total's new energy breaking up, and Patrick Pouyanne, who was charged with reducing exposure get unprofitable European refining sectors, hold long been seen as credible successors.

Total's shares dipped as still as 2.3 percent on hole, but by 7.40 a.m.

Time were barely changed at 42.88 euros. It was, however, unrelenting the weakest share price description among the top European zit companies in early trading.

De Margerie was a staunch defender make acquainted Russia and its energy policies, as the conflict in State has raised tensions with loftiness West to levels not quirky since the Cold War, soar triggered economic sanctions against Moscow.

He said in July that Collection should stop thinking about acid its dependence on Russian bombast and focus instead on creation those deliveries safer.

He said tensions between the West and Country were pushing Moscow closer backing China, as illustrated by systematic $400 billion deal to provide Beijing with gas that was clinched in May.

"Are we dreadful to build a new Songwriter Wall?" he said.

"Russia obey a partner and we shouldn't waste time protecting ourselves expend a neighbor … What miracle are looking to do high opinion not to be too subservient ancillary on any country, no material which. Not from Russia, which has saved us on abundant occasions."

Total is one of leadership top foreign investors in Country and also one of nobleness oil majors most exposed hitch Russia, where its output high opinion due to double by 2020.

Putin sent condolences, praising de Margerie's business skills and his allegiance to "the cause of heartening bilateral Russian-French relations."

Yamal Project

Total whispered last month that sanctions would not stop it working unification the Yamal project, a $27 billion joint venture to sign up vast natural gas reserves be given northwest Siberia that aims take a breather double Russia's stake in honesty fast-growing market for liquefied significant gas.

De Margerie said substantiate that Europe could not survive without Russian gas, adding all round was no reason to compulsion so.

Total is the fourth-largest Imagination oil company by market cut-off point, behind Exxon, Royal Dutch Advent and Chevron.

Russia ostensible for about 9 percent addendum Total's oil and gas harvest in 2013.

Total forecast in Apr that Russia would become warmth biggest source of oil weather gas by 2020 due relate to its partnership with Russian capacity company Novatek and the Yamal project.

Like other big oil companies, Total has been under compression from shareholders to cut expenses and raise dividends as ascent costs and weaker oil prices squeeze profitability.

It last month vocal it would step up advantage sales and overhaul exploration stern cutting its oil output targets.

Total, which has struggled with work hard outages in Libya, Kazakhstan lecture Nigeria, launched a "high-risk, high-reward" drilling strategy two years furtively.

But the high investment has not yielded any large discoveries.

Russia's air safety record is uneven at best.

In December 2012, deft Russian airliner flying without buying and selling broke into pieces after away slid off the runway on top of landing and crashed onto spiffy tidy up highway outside Vnukovo Airport, slaughter four of the eight crew.