The Daily Mojo...
For Halliburton, no dice in Nigeria
September 20, 2004 03:26 PM
After years of operating in Nigeria, Halliburton won't be able to receive any more contracts there -- no-bid or otherwise -- thanks to an embargo announced Monday. But the Nigerian complaints against Dick Cheney's former employer have little to do with cronyism and more to do with incompetence.
Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo approved the embargo, which cancels all contracts between government ministries and Halliburton indefinitely. According to a government statement:
"The federal government has decided to place an embargo on the patronage of Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited arising from its negligent conduct which led to the loss of two ionizing radioactive sources from Nigeria in 2002. Additionally, the company, among other infractions, has refused to cooperate with government authorities in ensuring the return of the sources to Nigeria and the ultimate resolution of the issue."
The "negligent conduct" charge stems from a 2002 incident, in which two radioactive measurement devices the company used were reported missing in Nigeria's delta region. The equipment eventually turned up in Germany, but the government was upset with what it deemed Halliburton's failure to help with the recovery.
With Halliburton involved in both the oil and natural gas industry there, the loss of all Nigerian contracts could be embarrassing for the company. Particularly because its affiliate TSKJ is under investigation in the U.S. for, as the AP put it, "allegedly considering bribing Nigerian officials to win the lucrative natural gas project some 10 years ago."
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This article has been made possible by the Foundation for National Progress, the Investigative Fund of Mother Jones
© 2004 The Foundation for National Progress
September 20, 2004 03:26 PM
After years of operating in Nigeria, Halliburton won't be able to receive any more contracts there -- no-bid or otherwise -- thanks to an embargo announced Monday. But the Nigerian complaints against Dick Cheney's former employer have little to do with cronyism and more to do with incompetence.
Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo approved the embargo, which cancels all contracts between government ministries and Halliburton indefinitely. According to a government statement:
"The federal government has decided to place an embargo on the patronage of Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited arising from its negligent conduct which led to the loss of two ionizing radioactive sources from Nigeria in 2002. Additionally, the company, among other infractions, has refused to cooperate with government authorities in ensuring the return of the sources to Nigeria and the ultimate resolution of the issue."
The "negligent conduct" charge stems from a 2002 incident, in which two radioactive measurement devices the company used were reported missing in Nigeria's delta region. The equipment eventually turned up in Germany, but the government was upset with what it deemed Halliburton's failure to help with the recovery.
With Halliburton involved in both the oil and natural gas industry there, the loss of all Nigerian contracts could be embarrassing for the company. Particularly because its affiliate TSKJ is under investigation in the U.S. for, as the AP put it, "allegedly considering bribing Nigerian officials to win the lucrative natural gas project some 10 years ago."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This article has been made possible by the Foundation for National Progress, the Investigative Fund of Mother Jones
© 2004 The Foundation for National Progress
posted by BLONDIE at 10:10 AM
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