VOA标准英语2008年-India Hikes Domestic Retail Oil Prices

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
04 June 2008

India has raised domestic fuel prices, in the wake of the massive surge in international crude oil prices. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, there are worries the move will fuel inflation at a crucial time for the government, which faces elections next year.
　

Woman pays for gas as employee fills up tank of car in New Delhi, 04 Jun 2008

After a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, the government announced that the price of gasoline will be raised by about 12 cents a liter. Diesel¹ will be hiked by about 7 cents. But the price of kerosene², which is widely used as a household fuel by poor people, has not been raised.

The hike in petroleum³ products has been widely expected following the record rise in international crude oil prices.

India has been hit hard because it imports three-quarters of its crude oil needs and its growing economy has led to a steady increase in demand for oil.

The government says a price hike is necessary to bail⁴ out public-sector oil companies, reeling under losses adding up to billions of dollars. These companies have warned that they might have to restrict oil imports because their cash reserves have eroded⁵.

Petroleum Minister Murli Deora says the government will continue to bear the major burden of surging international prices and that the hike for consumers is "marginal."

"To protect the common man from the inflationary impact of high international oil prices, the government and public-sector oil marketing⁶ companies have been absorbing most of the burden," said Deora. "However, due to the relentless⁷ increase in the international oil prices, it has become absolutely necessary for the consumer to also shoulder a small part of the increased burden."

Petroleum product prices are heavily subsidized by the government and are a politically sensitive issue in India

Indeed, the decision to hike prices has not been easy for a government which faces general elections next year and which has vowed⁸ to fight inflation, now running at a four-year high of more than eight percent. Analysts⁹ predict the latest hike in fuel prices will further fuel inflation.

Rising prices have been blamed for a series of losses in state elections suffered by the ruling Congress Party.

Some politicians warn that, despite the latest price hike, the government's oil subsidy¹⁰ bill will still be huge and could force it to cut back on social spending, adding to the Congress Party's dilemma¹¹.

1 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。

2 kerosene   

n.(kerosine)煤油，火油

参考例句：

• It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
• Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电，有煤油灯。

3 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。

4 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

5 eroded   

adj. 被侵蚀的，有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. 峭壁表面逐渐被海水侵蚀。
• The stream eroded a channel in the solid rock. 小溪在硬石中侵蚀成一条水道。

6 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

7 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

8 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

9 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。

10 subsidy   

n.补助金，津贴

参考例句：

• The university will receive a subsidy for research in artificial intelligence.那个大学将得到一笔人工智能研究的补助费。
• The living subsidy for senior expert's family is included in the remuneration.报酬已包含高级专家家人的生活补贴。

11 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。