2006年VOA标准英语-New Bolivian Energy Policy Causes Concern

By George Dwyer
Washington, D.C.
03 May 2006
 
watch report on Bolivia

The Bolivian Army is now guarding all petroleum¹ facilities  
  
European and other South American nations have expressed concern over the declaration by Bolivia's President Evo Morales that his government will nationalize the country's energy resources.

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Bolivia's President Evo Morales made good on an election promise by announcing Monday his government is nationalizing the county's oil and gas reserves.

 
President Morales making his announcemnt 
  
"The property of this oil and natural gas passes from this moment into the hands of the state of Bolivia under the control of the Bolivian people," said President Morales.

Analyst² David Wyss of Standard and Poors, a U.S. firm that analyzes³ market risk, said he believes Bolivia's decision will likely not have a severe impact.

David Wyss  
  
"Well, it will not have any big impact in the short run because Bolivia just does not have that much of an oil and natural gas industry, so this is a relatively⁴ minor⁵ issue from the international energy market standpoint."

Under the decree, private energy concerns operating in Bolivia have been ordered to sell controlling stakes in their companies to the Bolivian government, and renegotiate existing royalty⁶ payments.

In a speech, President Morales said, "This is the solution to the social and economic problems of our country. Once we have recovered these natural resources, this will generate work. It is the end of the looting of our natural resources by multi-national oil companies."

Oil drilling  
  
Throngs⁷ of Bolivians celebrated⁸ the announcement in La Paz, Bolivia on Monday. But private gas companies, which have investment interests of about $3.5 billion in the country, have expressed concern about the move. Major international firms, such as British Gas, British Petroleum, and Exxon say they are monitoring the situation. 

 
Guilherme Estrella
  
Guilherme Estrella is Director of Exploration for Petrobras, the Brazilian National Energy Company. "There is no panic. We are not afraid to initiate⁹ a conversation with the Bolivian Government. There is no problem," he said.

Energy companies have six months to negotiate new contracts with the government. During that time, the Bolivian government says it will conduct audits¹⁰ of each company. Meanwhile, the government announced soldiers and engineers have been sent to strategic energy locations across Bolivia.

"From this moment, they will take control of all the oil fields in the country with engineering battalions¹¹ that the Ministry¹² of Hydrocarbons¹³ has organized with the government," sid the Bolivian president.

Bolivia is the latest Latin American country to try to gain more control over its oil and gas industries. Venezuela has increased taxes on foreign energy companies, and made them enter joint¹⁴ ventures with the state.

  
  
Ecuador now has a law that allows the government to renegotiate contracts with oil companies.

And in Peru, one of the presidential candidates has promised to nationalize its natural gas industry.

Bolivia is believed to hold the second largest stock of natural gas on the South American continent. It's oil holdings, however, are more modest.

1 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 analyzes   

v.分析( analyze的第三人称单数 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• This approach analyzes management by studying experience usually through cases. 这个学派通常从实例获得经验，用以分析管理。 来自辞典例句
• The econometrician analyzes statistical data. 经济计量学者要分析统计材料。 来自辞典例句

4 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

5 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

6 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

7 throngs   

n.人群( throng的名词复数 )v.成群，挤满( throng的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She muscled through the throngs of people, frantically searching for David. 她使劲挤过人群，拼命寻找戴维。 来自辞典例句
• Our friends threaded their way slowly through the throngs upon the Bridge. 我们这两位朋友在桥上从人群中穿过，慢慢地往前走。 来自辞典例句

8 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

9 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

10 audits   

n.审计，查账( audit的名词复数 )v.审计，查账( audit的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Requires that use of all bond funds is subject to independent audits. 需要使用的所有债券基金是受独立审计。 来自互联网
• Support the locations during customer-visits, audits and quality-improvement programs. 支持客户参观，稽核和提高品质等项目。 来自互联网

11 battalions   

n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍

参考例句：

• God is always on the side of the strongest battalions. 上帝总是帮助强者。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Two battalions were disposed for an attack on the air base. 配置两个营的兵力进攻空军基地。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

13 hydrocarbons   

n.碳氢化合物，烃( hydrocarbon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Hydrocarbons (HC), like carbon monoxide, represent unburned and wasted fuel. 碳氢化合物(HC)像一氧化碳一样，为未燃尽的和被浪费掉的燃料。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• With this restricted frequency range it is not applicable to hydrocarbons. 这个较紧缩的频率范围不适用于烃类。 来自辞典例句

14 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。