Gas Shortage Intensifies in Mexico

Broadcast: Feb 13, 2003

 

Demand for electricity is growing in Mexico, but the state-owned oil company, known as Pemex, is reducing the amount of natural gas it can provide for electrical generation. The gas shortage problem has intensified¹ the debate over proposals to allow more foreign private sector² participation³ in energy production.

The director of Pemex, Raul Munoz Leos, says the state-owned petroleum⁴ company is falling behind in its ability to produce natural gas and that it will have to cut the amount of gas provided for electricity generation by more than 10 percent this year. He says Pemex lacks the technical ¹⁾infrastructure to exploit some of the crude oil found in deposits here in Mexico and that the less crude oil is drawn⁵ out, the less gas the company can produce. He says Mexico now faces a grave problem in providing sufficient gas to meet the demand from consumers as well as industries.

Government figures show that demand for natural gas is growing, even as Pemex production continues to fall. President Vicente Fox has proposed changes in the constitution that would allow some private companies to work in oil and gas exploration and production, but opposition⁶ parties have objected.

Mexico City-based energy expert David Shields says any proposed opening in the energy sector will likely stir sharp debate. "Mexico developed successfully as a ²⁾monopoly several decades ago. Monopolies are not working so well in the global economy nowadays and so it is logical to seek private sector participation to open up the industry," he says. "However, this has caused a very severe divide in political opinions and there is still a lot of opposition to foreign companies coming in, especially to do exploration and production of natural gas, which is what the Fox government is proposing."

Mr. Shields says the inability of Pemex to exploit some gas deposits is partly a result of the government's failure, over many years, to reinvest sufficient funds in the company. He says opposition leaders fear the introduction of private investment would ³⁾undermine the state-owned entity⁷ completely.

Mr. Shields suggests there may be other ways for Mexico to meet its need for electricity in spite of the gas deficit⁸. "They will have to look at ways to make sure that electricity production, energy production, steel, petrochemicals and heavy industry in general are not just using gas, but getting back to the old style way of working, which is using oil derivatives⁹ and other energy alternatives to fire their electricity generation."

Since President Fox proposed opening the energy sector to more private participation last year, there has been little progress made on the issue in the Congress. Opposition leaders say Pemex officials need to provide a better explanation of the shortfall. The Fox government, however, continues to insist that a limited opening to some foreign companies is the best way to ensure Mexico will have sufficient energy for its growing economy and population.

Greg Flakus VOA news, Mexico City.

 

1)    infrastructure[5infrE5strQktFE]n.下部构造, 基础下部组织

2)    monopoly [mE5nCpEli]n.垄断, 垄断者, 专利权, 专利事业

3)    undermine [7QndE5main]v.破坏

1 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

4 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。

5 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

6 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。

7 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

8 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

9 derivatives   

n.衍生性金融商品；派生物，引出物( derivative的名词复数 )；导数

参考例句：

• Many English words are derivatives of Latin words. 许多英语词来自拉丁语。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These compounds are nitrosohydroxylamine derivatives. 这类合成物是亚硝基羟胺衍生物。 来自辞典例句