2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Opposition Criticizes Sale of Oil Bloc
时间：2019-01-30 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA标准英语（五月）
Abuja
11 May 2007
The outgoing Nigerian government is entertaining bids in a last-minute auction 1 on Friday of 45 oil exploration licenses 2. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa in Abuja reports that the plan is going ahead despite a court order not to sell two of them and widespread criticism over timing 3 and transparency.
A resident of Nigeria's oil-rich delta region looks at flames from an oil company's gas flare (Jan 2007)
The Nigerian government says the sale of new oil drilling rights will grow reserves and production capacity, as well as generate income and attract new investment.
Nigeria expects to generate $500 million in signature bonuses alone from the auction.
The West African country, the world's eighth biggest exporter of crude oil, sits atop a colossal 6 reserve of oil and gas.
The auction has attracted great interest from oil companies around the world despite ongoing 7 violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Energy Minister Edmund Daukoro has promised the auction will be fair and transparent 8. But analysts 9 say the exercise is mostly for show and that the real decisions have been made in advance, with Asian companies most favored.
The timing of the bid is also causing controversy 10 in Nigeria because it comes in the last days of the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is scheduled to hand the office to president-elect Umaru Yar'Adua on May 29.
Lai Mohammed of the opposition 11 Action Congress party says the process lacks legitimacy 12 and credibility.
"We believe that in the twilight 13 of an administration, it is questionable 14 and quite improper 15 for you to be auctioning 16 oil blocks," he said. "What are you going to achieve by auctioning these oil blocks in less than three weeks to your departure?"
"You are only making sure that your cronies and friends are rewarded for loyalty 17. We believe it is indecent to hawk 18 off billions of dollars worth of oil blocks in their twilight of their departure," he continued.
Ironically, Mr.Obasanjo revoked 19 exploration rights that his predecessor 20 granted days before Mr. Obasanjo took over in 1999.
In the current case, the authorities have ignored a court order suspending the sale of two of the 45 blocks until the court rules on a dispute between the oil ministry 21 and Shell Oil Company.
Bidding was introduced in 2005 to encourage transparency and openness in the country's oil sector 22. Before, oil blocks were allocated 23 on a discretionary basis, a process fraught 24 with widespread abuse.
Eleven of the blocks are located in deep water offshore 25. Ten are in shallow waters. Thirteen are onshore in the troubled Niger Delta, and 11 are in the little-fancied inland basins.
- They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
- They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。
- Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句
- The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
- The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。
- He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
- The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。
- The match gave a flare.火柴发出闪光。
- You need not flare up merely because I mentioned your work.你大可不必因为我提到你的工作就动怒。
- There has been a colossal waste of public money.一直存在巨大的公款浪费。
- Some of the tall buildings in that city are colossal.那座城市里的一些高层建筑很庞大。
- The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
- The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。
- The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
- The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。
- 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。
- That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
- We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。
- 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。
- The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
- Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。
- Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
- Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。
- There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
- Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。
- Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
- Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。
- The Army is auctioning off a lot of old equipment. 军队正在把大量旧装备拍卖掉。 来自辞典例句
- So she's auctioning off a chance to go to an awards dinner? 那么她在拍卖与她共赴晚宴的机会了？ 来自电影对白
- She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
- His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。
- The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
- The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。
- It may be revoked if the check is later dishonoured. 以后如支票被拒绝支付，结算可以撤销。 来自辞典例句
- A will is revoked expressly. 遗嘱可以通过明示推翻。 来自辞典例句
- It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
- The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。
- 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。
- 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。
- The coming months will be fraught with fateful decisions.未来数月将充满重大的决定。
- There's no need to look so fraught!用不着那么愁眉苦脸的！