2006年VOA标准英语-OPEC Production Unchanged Despite High Pri

By Marlene Smith
Vienna
31 January 2006
 

OPEC's President Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru from Nigeria arrives for final press conference after a meeting of ministers of OPEC, in Vienna, 31 January 2006  
  
The Organization of the Petroleum¹ Exporting Countries (OPEC) has decided² to leave production quotas⁴ unchanged and wait until March to reassess the market. Analysts⁶ are concerned with a possible Iranian cutoff in response should there be a decision to send the issue of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

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OPEC oil ministers decided Tuesday to keep the official quota³ of 28 million barrels per day. Oil analyst⁵, Ehsan Ul-Haq, of PVM Oil Associates says OPEC will meet again in March to decide what to do if Iran cuts supply in protest against referral of its nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council.

"Iran exports more than 2.5 million barrels of oil per day, especially to Asia and Europe and if Iran either stops exporting its oil or restricts its exports to a few countries, then it will certainly have an impact," said Ul-Haq. "Because of Iran's good relations with China and Russia, it is a possibility that Iran might decide to send its oil only to Asian markets and it could mean lower supplies for Europe as a result and that other countries might have to make up for Iranian losses."

A special executive session of the International Atomic Energy Agency scheduled for Thursday is expected to send the Iranian nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

The United States and other countries suspect Iran is working on a secret weapons program, something strongly denied by Tehran. Iran's oil minister, Kasem Wasiri, told reporters in Vienna his country would not retaliate⁷ by stopping exports in the event of Council referral.

Analysts say oil prices are high, at almost $70 per barrel, and any shortfall from Iran could lead to record highs of twice that figure.

Iran is the world's fourth-largest crude exporter and other countries have little spare capacity to make up for any loss. OPEC ministers meet again March 8 in Vienna.

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 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 quota   

n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额

参考例句：

• A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
• He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。

4 quotas   

（正式限定的）定量( quota的名词复数 )； 定额； 指标； 摊派

参考例句：

• In fulfilling the production quotas, John made rings round all his fellow workers. 约翰完成生产定额大大超过他的同事们。
• Quotas of the means of production are allocated by the higher administrative bodies to the lower ones. 物资指标按隶属关系分配。

5 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。

6 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。

7 retaliate   

v.报复，反击

参考例句：

• He sought every opportunity to retaliate against his enemy.他找机会向他的敌人反击。
• It is strictly forbidden to retaliate against the quality inspectors.严禁对质量检验人员进行打击报复。