China depends on Africa for roughly one-third of its imported oil. And, many Chinese companies also see Africa as a lucrative market to sell oil drilling equipment. Several Chinese firms are attending this year's oil industry convention, underway in South Africa.
中国大约三分之一的进口石油来自非洲，与此同时，很多中国公司也把非洲作为销售石油设备的丰厚市场。在会议期间举行的展销会上，来自中国的厂家格外引人注目。
There are roughly 200 vendors at this year's Oil Africa conference and trade show. On the exhibit floor, you can buy everything from oil-proof work boots to off-shore oil rigs. Nestled between the established companies from Texas and the Middle East, are some newcomers.
大约有200家参展商参加今年的非洲石油大会和贸易展销会。在展览大厅，从石油工人穿的工作靴到海上石油钻塔，各种产品琳琅满目，不胜枚举。在那些历史悠久、名声远扬的跨国公司展台之间，还有一些新的厂家，其中不少是来自中国的公司。
Tina Zheng: "My company name is Xi'an Fengyang Petroleum Equipments, which is located in the center of China."
蒂娜.郑说：“我们公司是位于中国中部的西安凤阳石油设备有限公司。”
Amy Zhang: "Our company name is Hilong Group. We sell the drill pipe."
艾米.张说，“我们是海隆石油工业集团，我们经营钻杆。”
About a dozen Chinese companies are competing here to sell oil field equipment. Sales representative Pang Ling says her company has found quick success.
大约十几家中国公司在这里竞售他们的石油开采设备。销售人员庞玲说，她的公司收获不小。
" Africa is a good market for us, because we have just entered into this market and we have many rigs now," Pang said.
庞玲说：“非洲是我们的一个好市场，因为我们刚进入非洲市场，我们现在可以提供很多钻井平台。”
Sales representative James Yan says China 's share of the African market is small but growing.
销售代表詹姆斯.阎说，中国在非洲市场的占有率还不大，但正在不断增长。
"At this moment it's not big enough, but in the future we have the confidence," Yan said.
他说：“目前我们占有的市场份额还不大，但我们对未来充满信心。”
The surging demand for oil is creating a growing market for drilling and production equipment. And, according to Zhao Zhiming, president of China 's petrochemical industry association, Chinese vendors offer something others cannot.
国际市场对石油的需求剧增，钻井和生产设备市场也跟着水涨船高。中国石油和石油化工设备工业协会秘书长赵志明说，中国厂商出售的产品填补了其它厂商的不足。
"China can provide a very good price which is very competitive in all of Africa," Zhao said.
赵志明说：“中国能给买家提供很好的价格，在整个非洲地区，这方面的竞争都很激烈。”
Cost is a key component in developing Africa 's oil resources. Eduardo Lopez of the International Energy Agency told delegates at this conference that competition in the oil business is fueling a spike in equipment prices.
开发非洲石油资源，成本是个关键因素。国际能源机构的洛佩兹对出席会议的代表们说，石油行业的竞争引发了石油设备价格的窜升。
"It has become so difficult to get access to engineers, to platforms to drilling rigs and whatnot. That's a considerable challenge across the industry," Lopez said. "It's really difficult to deal with these ever-rising costs."
洛佩兹说：“雇用工程师、购买钻井平台等已经变得非常困难。这对整个石油开采行业都是一个巨大挑战，应对这些日益上涨的成本的确非常困难。”
But not everyone thinks cheaper Chinese imports are the best solution. South Africa Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica would like Africa rely on its own oil equipment industry.
但是，并非所有的人都认为中国的廉价产品是最佳的解决办法。南非矿产和能源部长松吉卡希望非洲能依靠自己的石油设备工业。
"I would like to encourage all the oil and gas producing countries to endeavor to promote locally owned and controlled companies," Sonjica said. "The second wave of development should now focus on the growth and development of small and medium enterprises that support the oil companies operating on the continent."
松吉卡说：“我希望鼓励所有生产石油和天然气的国家努力推广当地人经营和掌控的公司。下一波开发的重点要放在中小企业的成长和发展上，让他们来支持那些在非洲大陆上运营的石油公司。”
Still, the Chinese industry is growing fast. In 2005, it supplied $800 million of oil field equipment to more than 50 countries, worldwide.
不过，中国工业正在迅速发展。2005年，中国向世界50多个国家提供了8亿美元的石油开采设备。 |