VOA慢速英语2014 南非面临日益严重的停电问题

 

AS IT IS 2014-12-26 South Africa Faces Worsening Power Outages 南非面临日益严重的停电问题

South Africa is facing an electricity crisis. South Africans have been experiencing a growing number of electricity "blackouts" -- also known as power outages.

The state-operated power company Eskom provides South Africa with 95 percent of its electricity. Eskom officials expect the company to lose billions of dollars over the next four years.

So the government is planning to sell parts of the business in an effort to limit the losses. But opposition¹ lawmakers and labor² unions strongly oppose the plan. The government is now seeking to limit the damage to its political power while working to end the biggest threat to the nation's economy.

Eskom's top official, Tshediso Matona, announced this month that the power outages will probably continue over the next year and a half.

Eskom controls the production, transmission and distribution of electric power in South Africa. In industrial countries, a combination of private businesses and government agencies do this work.

Natasha Michaels is a member of the opposition Democratic Alliance. She studies publicly-operated businesses for her party. She says Eskom should end its control over electricity in South Africa.

"The main reason we find ourselves in the crisis that we are in right now basically is due to Eskom having such a complete and total monopoly around the energy production and energy distribution in our country. And I think now, more than ever, it's become apparent that this is a very unhealthy relationship."

The government plans to give Eskom $1.8 billion and sell parts of the company for $2 billion to help ease its financial crisis.

Over the past 10 years or so, many people have discussed selling the power company to private business. But the Communist Party and powerful unions oppose privatization. These two groups have traditionally supported the ruling African National Congress. An opposition party -- the Economic Freedom Front -- also opposes privatization.

Critics of Eskom are working for passage of a measure that would reduce the company's role in the transmission of power. An independent agency would take over that work, and encourage competition.

Shaun Nel represents a group of businesses that use large amounts of energy. He says the group supports the entry into the electricity system of what are called private independent power producers, or IPPs.

"Privatization of Eskom is not ideologically³ palatable⁴ but the use of IPPs, I think, is something which, which, while has been problematic in the past, they've, they've come to realize that they actually can't afford the South African balance sheet to maintain that level of investment. So, IPPs I don't think are unpalatable but the breakup of Eskom and the privatization of Eskom definitely is."

At one time, South Africa did not have problems with its power supply. In the 1980s, the country produced more power than it used. Around that time, South Africa's mining operations, processing and construction industries started expanding. These businesses need a lot of electricity to operate. They soon became the main driver of South Africa's economic growth.

Twenty years ago, South Africa had a large supply of the world's least-costly electricity.

Chris Yelland is an energy expert. He says today, Eskom is in a "financial hole." He says it cannot be rescued until the government makes difficult political choices.

"Ideologically, the government is kind of hamstrung to its partnership⁵ with labor and partnership with the South African Communist Party. I personally believe that Eskom should contemplate⁶ selling certain of Eskom assets in order to diversify⁷ the electricity sector⁸ of South Africa and, and raise the money in that way. But, as I say, ideologically, it appears almost impossible that that would happen. Then the economy is gonna suffer from a failing electricity sector so in a way, money is the final, deciding factor. Money will trump⁹ ideology¹⁰ ultimately."

Words in This Story

blackout – n. a period when lights are off because of an electrical power failure

outage – n. a period of time when there is no electricity in a building or area

state-operated – adj. controlled by a government

production – n. the process of making something for sale or use

transmission – n. the act or process of sending electrical signals to homes and businesses

distribution – n. the act of delivering something

monopoly – n. complete control of the entire supply of goods or of a service in a certain area or market

privatize – v. to remove (something) from government control and place it in private control or ownership

palatable – adj. pleasant or acceptable to someone

problematic – adj. difficult to understand, solve, or fix

afford – v. to be able to pay for (something)

balance sheet – n. a statement that shows the financial condition of a company at a particular time by listing the amount of money and property that the company has and the amount of money it owes

breakup – n. the separation of something into smaller parts or pieces

ideology – n. the set of ideas and beliefs of a group or political party

hamstrung – v. to damage or ruin the force or effectiveness of (something or someone)

contemplate – v. to think deeply or carefully about (something)

asset – n. something that is owned by a person or company (usually plural)

diversify – v. to produce or sell more kinds of products; to increase the variety of goods or services produced or offered by (someone or something)

sector – n. an area of an economy; a part of an economy that includes certain kinds of jobs

deciding factor – n. something that causes you to make a particular decision

trump – v. to be more important than (something)

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 ideologically   

adv. 意识形态上地，思想上地

参考例句：

• Ideologically, they have many differences. 在思想意识上，他们之间有许多不同之处。
• He has slipped back ideologically. 他思想退步了。

4 palatable   

adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的

参考例句：

• The truth is not always very palatable.事实真相并非尽如人意。
• This wine is palatable and not very expensive.这种酒味道不错，价钱也不算贵。

5 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。

6 contemplate   

vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视

参考例句：

• The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。
• The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.后果不堪设想。

7 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

10 ideology   

n.意识形态，(政治或社会的)思想意识

参考例句：

• The ideology has great influence in the world.这种思想体系在世界上有很大的影响。
• The ideal is to strike a medium between ideology and inspiration.我的理想是在意识思想和灵感鼓动之间找到一个折衷。