EXHIBIT 99.36
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[LOGO - VERMILION ENERGY TRUST]



                                  PRESS RELEASE
              VERMILION ENERGY TRUST ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF FINANCING
                                DECEMBER 10, 2003


Vermilion Energy Trust ("Vermilion" or the "Trust") - (VET.UN) announced today
the closing of the issue of 6,050,000 Trust Units ("Trust Units") at a price of
$14.10 per Trust Unit for gross proceeds of approximately $85 million, which
includes the exercise in full of the underwriters' option to purchase an
additional 550,000 Trust Units. The Trust Units were offered to the public on a
bought deal basis through a syndicate of underwriters led by CIBC World Markets
Inc. and included BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., TD
Securities Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Canaccord Capital Corporation,
Scotia Capital Inc. and FirstEnergy Capital Corp.

The net proceeds of the financing will be used to fund the Trust's capital
expenditure and acquisition program and for general purposes. In the interim,
the net proceeds will be used to repay a portion of Vermilion's bank
indebtedness.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction. The Trust Units offered will
not and have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933
and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an
applicable exemption from the registration requirement.

Vermilion is an international energy trust that benefits from geographically
diverse production. While 73% of production volumes come from high quality oil
and gas reserves in Canada, the Trust also produces high value, light oil in
France. The Trust also holds a 72.2% interest in Aventura Energy Inc., a
Trinidad-based operation. The Trust's objective is to deliver stable
distributions and maintain a strong balance sheet while reinvesting capital to
maximize production and asset value for unitholders.

For further information contact:

Lorenzo Donadeo, President and CEO Curtis W. Hicks, Vice-President, Finance and
CFO or Paul Beique, Director, Investor Relations 2800, 400 - 4th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 0J4
Phone:   (403) 269-4884
Fax:     (403) 264-6306
IR Toll Free:  1-866-895-8101
info@vermilionenergy.com
www.vermilionenergy.com

To find out more about Vermilion Energy Trust visit our website at
www.vermilionenergy.com