2007年VOA标准英语-Senegal Makes a Push into Mining Sector

By Naomi Schwarz
Dakar
21 March 2007

Many West African countries are desperately¹ poor, despite being rich in natural resources. Experts say African governments need to negotiate harder with foreign investors² to ensure their country benefits. Senegal has not had a very large mining industry, but a recently announced multi-billion-dollar deal with steel giant, Arcelor Mittal, represents the West African country's latest attempt to increase its share in the mining sector³. Naomi Schwarz reports from Senegal's capital, Dakar.

The deal Senegal negotiated to develop an iron mine in southeastern Senegal is one of the biggest in the country's history.

Indian metal magnat Lakshmi Mittal arrives to give a news conference after a visit to the Liege Arcelor-Mittal group steel factories, 28 Feb 2007

It includes promises from international steel giant Arcelor Mittal to build 750 kilometers of railroad and a new port in Dakar, as well as the mine. These investments are estimated at more than $2 billion.

Independent economist⁴ Moubarak Lo says this could be a good opportunity for Senegal.

"This is a good occasion to start a new way of doing business with international investors through a win-win partnership," said Lo. "They can make profits with their project. but while also creating real impact in the country. "

Senegal only has phosphate mines operating, but expects gold mines to become operational within a couple years and has been prospecting⁵ for copper⁶ and uranium. Discussions to develop iron mines in the Faleme region have been under way for more than two decades. Lo was in the government in the 1990s during an earlier phase of negotiations⁷.

He says he is skeptical⁸ that the Mittal deal, large as it is, will really do much for Senegal.

"An agreement on paper, this is only one phase. Now, the question is will Mittal implement⁹ the agreement as it was signed," said Lo. "I have seen so many agreements signed in this country without any action following."

He says the capital investments described in the project are not enough to create real development in Senegal.

"If you want real impact, you have to go further. Not just developing the mine, the railways, the mineral port, and taking the iron ore brut and export it to India or to another countr," added Lo. "The challenge for the government and the position the government should have would be to transform the iron ore here and that will create value in Senegal."

Arcelor Mittal has said it is considering investing in steel-making facilities in the country.

Abdoul Aziz Ndiaye, an engineer in Senegal's Mining and Industry Ministry¹⁰, says Senegal's mining code also requires mining companies to invest in social development projects.

"A good example in the area around Sabodala where in a period of two years, the first gold deposit will be exploited," said Ndiaye. "We have a strong social program about water supply, solar energy supply to schools and public places, about health, about women and young people education."

He says the final agreements with Mittal include social projects that emphasize health and vision.

He says, Mittal has talked about spending about $5 million, but the contract does not stipulate¹¹ the total amount Mittal is required to spend on such programs, and he says he hopes Mittal will eventually commit more funds to social development.

"[It is] not enough if you take the billion-dollar investment, but it is only the social program in the area just near the project in the region where the mine is operating," said Ndiaye. "And I think they can invest more in different areas because the project is from Faleme and Bargny. For example, in the Bargny area, where the port will be. It is an evolutive aspect. The amount they have given is, I think, just for beginning."

An analyst¹² with Oxfam America, Ibrahima Aidara, says governments should negotiate harder for deals that will benefit their countries.

"Foreign investment is good, and it can really boost national economies," said Aidara. "But you have to negotiate very well and integrate your national economic interest and of course your communities. We could get better than what we are getting."

He says Ghana, one the world's largest gold producers, is a good example of the problem.

"For example, 95 percent of mining revenues of Ghana is going out Ghana," he continued. "Only five percent remains¹³ in the economy. And it is just the same in all other countries."

The director of mining watchdog group Global Witness, Patrick Alley¹⁴, says African governments fear scaring away foreign investors and end up selling themselves too cheaply.

He says Arcelor Mittal negotiated such an agreement with Liberia only months after the country ended its brutal¹⁵ civil war.

But recently, the Liberian government was able to re-negotiate the deal with terms that are much more favorable.

"We were able to say to the government of Liberia that they were in a very strong position," said Alley. "Mittal really wanted that iron ore, they really want to be sustainable in their iron ore production. So Liberia was in a much stronger bargaining position than it thought it was. And that made a whole lot of difference."

Alley says governments should not just focus on direct investment. Unfavorable contracts, he says, have included large tax breaks for foreign investors and non-market driven pricing agreements for the exported materials.

1 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

2 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

3 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。

4 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

5 prospecting   

n.探矿

参考例句：

• The prospecting team ploughed their way through the snow. 探险队排雪前进。
• The prospecting team has traversed the length and breadth of the land. 勘探队踏遍了祖国的山山水水。

6 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

7 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

8 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

9 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

10 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

11 stipulate   

vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证

参考例句：

• International rules stipulate the number of foreign entrants.国际规则规定了外国参赛者的人数。
• Some manufacturers stipulate the price at which their goods are to be sold.有些制造商规定出售他们生产的商品的价格。

12 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。

13 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

14 alley   

n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路

参考例句：

• We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
• The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。

15 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。