VOA标准英语2008年-Indonesia Considers Leaving OPEC

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
06 May 2008

Indonesia is considering leaving the Organization of Petroleum¹ Exporting Countries, because of the country's declining crude oil output. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins in Jakarta has more.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Tuesday the country is considering whether to give up its membership in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Yudhoyono says Indonesia's "wells are drying" and the country needs to concentrate on increasing production.

Indonesia is Southeast Asia's only OPEC member. It joined in 1962, just two years after the group was formed.

This is not the first time Jakarta has reassessed the country's membership in OPEC.

Several years ago, a team was formed to analyze² Indonesia's membership. It recommended the country continue with the organization, to maintain good relations with oil producing countries, especially those in the Middle East.

But that has changed now. Indonesia must import oil, because of years of declining investment in exploration and extraction.

Analysts³ also say the country's weak legal system has discouraged oil companies from investing here.

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 analyze   

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

参考例句：

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。

3 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。