Paris-based construction giant Technip S.A. has agreed to pay $338 million to avoid prosecution and settle civil suits alleging violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in a 1990s and early 2000s bribery scheme to win $6 billion in contracts in Nigeria.

Under the June 29 deal with the U.S. Justice Dept. and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Technip says it will pay the fines over a two-year period and “improve its compliance procedures,” including appointment of a monitor.

The firm was part of the TSKJ engineering-procurement-construction consortium involved in building the Bonny Island liquified- natural-gas plant during that time. In a court statement, Technip admitted to bribing officials of Nigeria’s state-owned oil company.

TSKJ, registered in Portugal, also included Houston-based KBR among its members. The firm agreed to pay $579 million in 2009 to settle related allegations. Others in the consortium included Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. and JGC Corp. of Japan. “We stand by Technip’s commitment to carry out its business activities ethically,” says the firm’s CEO, Thierry Pilenko.

Technip ranks 27th on ENR’s list of the Top 225 Global Contractors, with $11 billion in 2009 revenue in France and abroad.