The U.S. government is investigating payments made by a Halliburton Co. joint venture to the Nigerian government in connection with a liquefied natural gas plant in Nigeria, the company said on Friday.
Houston-based Halliburton, one of the biggest providers of field and engineering to the energy industry, said it has met with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department to discuss the matter. Investigators have asked Halliburton for access to information regarding the payments in light of the requirements of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the company said.
Halliburton said it does not believe it violated the act but "there can be no assurance that government authorities would not conclude otherwise." The company also said it continues to investigate the issue internally.
TSKJ is a Portugal-registered company equally owned by Halliburton's Kellogg Brown & Root, Technip SA of France, Eni SpA affiliate Snamprogetti Netherlands and JGC Corp. of Japan.
TSKJ and others entered into contracts to build and expand a liquefied natural gas facility project for Nigeria LNG Ltd, a venture owned by Nigeria's state oil company and affiliates of three European oil companies including Royal Dutch/Shell Group, France's Total and Italy's Agip.