10-29-07

石油價格突破93美元創新高 (Oil Prices Rise Above 93 Dollars; a Record High)

人們擔心中東緊張局勢影響阻礙該地區的石油供應，石油價格星期一首次突破每桶93美元。在亞洲的交易中，12月交貨的原油價格每桶一度達創記錄的93美元20美分，比星期五收盤的創紀錄價格91美元86美分上漲了一美元多。

交易人士說，油價上漲是由於人們擔心土耳其軍隊和庫爾德反政府武裝之間的戰鬥將導致土耳其派兵進入盛產石油的伊拉克北部地區。另一個促使油價上漲的原因是，墨西哥最近由於風暴的影響而決定削減石油產量。一些交易人士說，最近的油價飆升使每桶石油的價格達到100美元的可能性變得更大。

Oil prices rose above 93 dollars a barrel for the first time Monday on fears that Mideast tensions could disrupt oil supplies from the region. The price of crude oil for December delivery rose to a record high of 93 dollars-20 cents in Asian trading. That was up more than one dollar from Friday's record close of 91 dollars-86 cents in New York.

Dealers say oil prices are rising on fears that fighting between Turkish forces and Kurdish rebels will prompt a Turkish invasion of northern Iraq - a major oil-producing region. Another factor driving up prices is Mexico's recent decision to cut oil production because of a storm. Some dealers say the recent surge in oil prices makes a rise to 100 dollars a barrel more likely.

通用汽車公司將在中國建替代燃料研究中心 (General Motors to Launch Alternative Fuel Research Center in China)

美國汽車製造巨頭通用汽車公司(GM)表示，將在中國的金融中心上海建立一個耗資2億5千萬美元的替代燃料研究中心。通用目前正協同它在上海的合作夥伴上海汽車工業集團以及清華大學開展這個項目。通用汽車公司首席執行官星期一說，中心的建設工程將在明年下半年完工。他說，中國有潛力成為採用替代性的推力系統的市場領導者。

中國的大城市空氣污染嚴重。為了減少污染以及對進口石油的依賴，中國政府一直在努力倡導使用更清潔、更有效的燃料。

The U.S. auto giant General Motors says it will set up a 250 million dollar alternative fuel research center in China's financial hub, Shanghai. General Motors is working on the project in conjunction with its Shanghai auto partner, Shanghai Automotive Industries Corporation, and Tsinghua University. General Motors chief executive said Monday that construction on the center would be finished late next year. He said China has the potential to become the market leader in the adoption of alternative propulsion systems.

The air in China's major cities is thick with pollution. The government has been trying to promote cleaner and more efficient fuels in an effort to cut pollution and reduce its dependence on imported oil.