2006年VOA标准英语-China Oil Giant Reaches Deal to Buy Major

By Luis Ramirez
Beijing
10 January 2006

The giant Chinese state-owned China National Offshore¹ Oil Corporation, CNOOC, has reached a deal to buy a 45 percent stake in a Nigerian oil field for more than $2 billion. The purchase, if approved by both governments, would be China's first major venture into oil-rich Nigeria.

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The deal is part of China's bid to look for other energy sources to quench² a mounting thirst for oil caused by its rapidly expanding economy.

Energy will be high on the agenda when Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visits Nigeria next week as part of a West African tour. Foreign Ministry³ spokesman, Kong Quan, on Tuesday said China is looking to expand its partnership⁴ with the West African nation, which is the world's eleventh largest producer of oil.

Kong says the Chinese and Nigerian governments will sign two important agreements: one on economic and technology cooperation and a memorandum⁵ of understanding on developing a strategic partnership.

CNOOC's bid to buy into the Nigerian oil field comes after its attempt to buy a major U.S. oil company failed last year. American lawmakers blocked the bid, citing security concerns.

Analysts⁶ say the Nigerian bid will not be easy for CNOOC, which has no experience in dealing⁷ with Nigeria - a country rated as a difficult place to do business. The international anti-corruption group Transparency International ranks the country as the sixth most corrupt⁸ nation in the world.

James Brock is an independent energy consultant⁹ based in Beijing. He says western oil corporations with much more experience have faced serious challenges, and he says he expects CNOOC's experience to be no different.

"The western companies such as Shell and Chevron¹⁰ did not bid on this block and that would imply they didn't believe the values were there," he said. "So this is certainly a hurdle¹¹ which CNOOC will have to overcome."

India last month blocked a bid for the same stake by its state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, saying it was not commercially viable¹².

Energy analysts say that in many ways, China has no choice but to take such risks as its energy needs continue to mount.

The need for new oil sources is also driving China to strengthen ties with the left-wing president-elect of Bolivia, Evo Morales, whose country has vast gas reserves. Mr. Morales, who has pledged to nationalize the Bolivian gas industry, visited Beijing this week and received Chinese assurances of aid and trade deals.

1 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

2 quench   

vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制

参考例句：

• The firemen were unable to quench the fire.消防人员无法扑灭这场大火。
• Having a bottle of soft drink is not enough to quench my thirst.喝一瓶汽水不够解渴。

3 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。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

9 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

10 chevron   

n.V形臂章；V形图案

参考例句：

• He wore shoulderstrap rank slides with sergeant's chevrons.他佩戴标示级别的肩章，上面有中士的V形标志。
• The chevron or arrow road sign indicates a sharp bend to the left or right.V形或箭头路标表示有向左或向右的急转弯。

11 hurdle   

n.跳栏，栏架；障碍，困难；vi.进行跨栏赛

参考例句：

• The weather will be the biggest hurdle so I have to be ready.天气将会是最大的障碍，所以我必须要作好准备。
• She clocked 11.6 seconds for the 80 metre hurdle.八十米跳栏赛跑她跑了十一秒六。

12 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。