Task 6. Give synonyms for the words below. Consult the dictionary.



available, perspective, to tackle, pillar, access, issue, ancilliary, to address, challenge, uninterrupted

Task 7. Give antonyms for the words below. Consult the dictionary.

sustainable, domestic, alleviate, relevant, transparent, sensitive, benefit, to enhance, reluctance, to promote

Task 8. Make up five sentences of your own in Russian and five sentences in English using word combinations from the text. Work in pairs: in turns read your sentences for your partner to interpret into English/Russian.

Task 9. Fill in the gaps with prepositions where necessary. Translate the text into Russian in writing.

The geopolitics of Arctic energy

Arctic oil and gas resources are highly politicised. Within most Arctic countries, oil and gas development is politically controversial ____ environmental grounds and can have a significant influence ____ the political dynamics ____ central and local governments. ____ time, the integration of the Arctic economy ____ the global economy – principally through energy and transport – will further increase its geopolitical relevance.

In the US, the opening ____ further areas of the US Arctic ____ exploration and, ultimately, development has strong support ____ Alaska, but limited support elsewhere. In Canada, Arctic energy and mining projects play into complex federal politics and the domestic politics of indigenous peoples ____ the north. In Greenland, exploration ____ offshore hydrocarbons is widely accepted as a pathway ____ greater economic prosperity and a guarantee ____ self-government. In Russia, maintaining oil production and increasing production of natural gas is a strategic imperative. ____ Norway, government and public support ____ development is contingent ____ strong environmental regulation.

There is a key geopolitical dimension to Arctic oil and gas developments, involving states’ power, stability and influence. This is particularly true ____ Russia, where hydrocarbons represent 40% of export earnings and the state budget depends ____ taxes and royalties ____ hydrocarbon production. Russia’s gas exports are a major feature of its geopolitical role ____ Europe, while expanding oil and gas exports ____ China has become an important policy objective ____ the Russian government. Nonetheless, development of the Russian oil and gas sector ____ the Arctic – particularly offshore – depends ____ some extent on the participation of Western oil and gas firms ____ the technology and management skills ____ develop them.

The development ____ Norwegian gas production, and the potential ____ export via existing pipeline networks to which the United Kingdom is connected, may reduce European dependence ____ other sources ____ gas. ____ November 2011 British company Centrica signed a 10-year, £13bn ($20bn) supply deal ____ natural gas ____ Norway, following a wider UK–Norway Memorandum of Understanding ____ energy.

Increased oil and gas production ____ Arctic North America is often presented as a way ____ improving US ‘energy security’, though export prospects to Asia may ultimately trump home markets. Investments across the Arctic are increasingly international – with interest ____ Indian, Chinese and South Korean companies.

(from Lloyd’s ARCTIC OPENING: Opportunity and Risk in the High North)

Task 10. Fill in the gaps with the words and word combinations in the box. Summarise the text to ouline the major challenges to energy security.

diversification, vulnerability, demand growth, producers, to sustain, market position, suppliers and customers, transportation channels, risk of disruptions, environmental, oil and gas, efficient, Diversity, supply disruption, enhancing, impact, strategic stocks, shifts, share

 

Growing Energy Security and Environmental Concerns

 

Over time, consuming countries will grow increasingly reliant on oil and gas imports from an ever-smaller group of suppliers - notably Russia and the big Middle East 1) ________________. Expanding trade is to be welcomed as it binds 2) ________________ in mutually beneficial relationships. But, at the same time, the risk of a major 3) ________________ - whether from terrorism, piracy, accidents, severe weather, political tensions or war - will undoubtedly increase.

Further cause for concern is the growing reliance on strategic 4) ________________ through which almost all the oil and gas exported by Middle Eastern countries must flow. Consuming countries’ 5) ________________ to a disruption in supplies from that region will, therefore grow - as will the risk that some producing countries may use their dominant 6) ________________ to raise prices or to withhold supplies for political reasons. 7) ________________ of sources, of suppliers and of routes is crucial.

Consuming countries must identify policies and measures aimed at reducing the 8) ________________ and higher prices, as well as mitigating their consequences. They need to strengthen their ability to handle a supply emergency, including maintaining adequate volumes of 9) ________________. Consuming-country governments also need to consider long-term policies that promote further 10) ________________ of their energy supplies as a means of both lowering their vulnerability to supply disruptions and of addressing 11) ________________ challenges, including rising greenhouse-gas emissions. Reducing dependence on oil and gas through diversification of fuels and their geographic sources and more 12) ________________ use of energy must be central to long-term policies aimed at 13) ________________ energy security.

In practice, the policies of producing and consuming countries will change over time in response to each other, to market developments and to 14) ________________ in market power. If the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) upstream investment falters and prices rise, the more likely it becomes that consuming countries will adopt additional policies to curb 15) ________________ and reliance on MENA. This would have the effect of tempering the long-term16) ________________ on prices of lower MENA investment. It would also amplify the depressive effect of higher prices on 17) ________________ demand. The more successful the importing countries’ policies are, the more likely it is that the producing countries will adopt policies 18) ________________their production and their global market 19) ________________. Lower prices would result.


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