Russian Oil Industry Holds Promise,

 

By Greg Flakus
Record-breaking energy prices have heightened concerns about diminishing oil production worldwide at a time when demand from emerging nations like China and India is growing dramatically. Increased production in Russia could offset¹ the demand crunch², but many energy analysts⁴ believe Russia's internal political questions need to be resolved first. 

The rise of Russia as a major oil producer could be just the boost the world energy market needs at a time of rising demand and questions about the security of supplies in the Persian Gulf⁵ region and elsewhere. At a conference Monday hosted by the Baker⁶ Institute at Houston's Rice University, experts and oil industry representatives came together to look at Russia and its energy strategy.

Amy Jaffe, chief energy analyst³ for the Baker Institute and one of the authors of a new report on Russia's energy sector⁷, says increased Russian production could ease pressure on world oil prices.

"The strong growth in Russian oil production is real," said Ms. Jaffe. "Oil exports could rise by over two million barrels a day between now and 2008, based on just known resources, that is, without further exploration, and using existing cash flow for the largest Russian oil majors."

Currently, according to the report, the expansion of Russian oil exports has made the country second only to Saudi Arabia in total exports and the largest petroleum⁸ exporter among nations that are not members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). After slumping⁹ to around six million barrels a day in the mid-1990s, Russian oil production this year reached nine million barrels a day.

Much of the increase in Russia's production has come from a handful of private companies like Yukos, Lukoil and Sibneft.

But, Ms. Jaffe notes, Russia's future export growth could be hampered¹⁰ by the policies of its president, Vladimir Putin, who favors more government control of the oil sector.

"The Kremlin's plans for reorganization could dampen the level of increase by disrupting the speedy implementation¹¹ of plans to remove infrastructure¹² constraints¹³ or by causing a slowdown in capital expenditures¹⁴ and project development," she added.

A year ago, Russian authorities arrested Yukos President Mikhail Khodorkovsky on charges that included tax evasion¹⁵. Then, President Putin raised license¹⁶ fees for exploration and development of oil fields and began to strengthen state control over natural resources. One consequence of this was a slowdown in foreign investment projects in Russia and derailment of a plan for a pipeline¹⁷ to supply the growing market for energy in China.

Nina Poussenkova of the Institute for World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Science, says President Putin no doubt wants to increase oil deliveries to China, but his priority is consolidating¹⁸ government control over the energy sector.

"It is a much more political than economic question," said Ms. Poussenkova.  "But, yes, definitely, the government is targeting the market, because it is very lucrative¹⁹ and fast growing."

But Russian oil exports are likely to keep growing, according to Richard Gordon, executive vice²⁰ president of the petroleum research company John S. Herold, Incorporated, because, unlike China, Russia's own demand for oil is not significant.

"The strategic imperative²¹ for exports in Russia is pretty straightforward," said Mr. Gordon. "It has to do with the simple fact that the raw capacity to produce in Russia grossly outweighs²² Russian needs at this time. Much like Saudi Arabia there is absolutely no purpose to further development in Russia if one does not export."

Russian oil production could expand rapidly once the country begins to fully²³ exploit some of its more remote regions, according to Robert Ebel, chairman of the Energy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

"The future today is in east Siberia and offshore," said Mr. Ebel. "If it is realized, we can expect probably continued growth through the middle of the next decade. If it is not realized, I would suspect you will see a decline in production starting in about ten years."

The development of new fields and the construction of pipelines²⁴ will require billions of dollars in investment and the technological²⁵ expertise²⁶ that foreign oil companies could provide. However, the Baker Institute report notes that Moscow is opposed to production-sharing agreements with foreign oil companies and many potential outside investors²⁷ are put off by the lack of transparency and legal protections in Russia.

Experts attending the conference here in Houston say that President Putin will likely continue to seek an energy partnership²⁸ with the United States, but that he will not allow any foreign investment or strategic partnerships²⁹ that would impinge on the Russian government's control of oil and gas assets. The growth of the vital energy sector in Russia will depend on what arrangements can be made to attract foreign investment, while at the same time assuring government guardianship³⁰ of natural resources.

Greg Flakus, VOA news, Houston.

 

 

注释：
Record-breaking 破纪录的
diminishing 逐渐缩小的
offset 弥补
Persian Gulf 波斯湾
strategy 策略
exploration 勘探
petroleum 石油
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries 石油输出国组织
slump（物价）暴跌
hamper 妨碍，牵制
Kremlin 克里姆林宫
dampen 抑制
expenditure 支出，花费
evasion 逃避
derailment 停顿
consolidate 巩固
lucrative 有利的
straightforward 直接了当的，简单的
exploit 开采
transparency 透明度
impinge on 侵犯
assets 资产
guardianship 保护

 

 

 

1 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。

2 crunch   

n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声

参考例句：

• If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
• People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。

3 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。

4 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。

5 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

6 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

7 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。

8 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。

9 slumping   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的现在分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Hong Kong's slumping economy also caused a rise in bankruptcy applications. 香港经济低迷，破产申请个案随之上升。
• And as with slumping, over-arching can also be a simple postural habit. 就像弯腰驼背，过度挺直也可能只是一种习惯性姿势。

10 hampered   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。

11 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

12 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

13 constraints   

强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束

参考例句：

• Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

14 expenditures   

n.花费( expenditure的名词复数 )；使用；（尤指金钱的）支出额；（精力、时间、材料等的）耗费

参考例句：

• We have overspent.We'll have to let up our expenditures next month. 我们已经超支了，下个月一定得节约开支。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pension includes an allowance of fifty pounds for traffic expenditures. 年金中包括50镑交通费补贴。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 evasion   

n.逃避，偷漏(税)

参考例句：

• The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
• The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。

16 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

17 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

18 consolidating   

v.（使）巩固， （使）加强( consolidate的现在分词 )；（使）合并

参考例句：

• These measures are meant for consolidating the system of basic medical care. 这些举措旨在夯实基层医疗体系，让老百姓看大病不必出远门。 来自互联网
• We are consolidating the Chinese and English versions of our homepage. 我们将为您提供中英文版本一起的主页。 来自互联网

19 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

20 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

21 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

22 outweighs   

v.在重量上超过( outweigh的第三人称单数 )；在重要性或价值方面超过

参考例句：

• Her need to save money outweighs her desire to spend it on fun. 她省钱的需要比她花钱娱乐的愿望更重要。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Its clarity in algebraic and analytical operations far outweighs any drawbacks. 文化代数和解析运算中的清晰性远远胜过任何缺点。 来自辞典例句

23 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

24 pipelines   

管道( pipeline的名词复数 )； 输油管道； 在考虑（或规划、准备） 中； 在酿中

参考例句：

• The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
• The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

25 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

26 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

27 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

28 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。

29 partnerships   

n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 )；合伙人身份；合作关系

参考例句：

• Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句

30 guardianship   

n. 监护, 保护, 守护

参考例句：

• They had to employ the English language in face of the jealous guardianship of Britain. 他们不得不在英国疑忌重重的监护下使用英文。
• You want Marion to set aside her legal guardianship and give you Honoria. 你要马丽恩放弃她的法定监护人资格，把霍诺丽娅交给你。