THE ANALYSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FACTORS ABOUT CHINA’S PETROLEUM COMPANIES’ INVESTMENT IN AFRICAN
ABSTRACT
Oil, as an important strategic material which could not be replaced by others with existing technologis, is an indispensable energy resource supporting the development of the world's economy. Therefore, ensuring the security of oil has also become one of important national strategic goals. As oil has closely related to the world's politic, economy and military, the competition for oil is extremely stiff among many countries.
China’s economy has experienced rapid growth since the reform and opening up to the outside world, and its demand for oil is increasing day by day accordingly. It has become an net oil importer since 1993, and also its import of crude oil increases year by year. But during the same period,
the slow growth of its domestic oil production can not meet the rapid economic development because of the strong demand for oil, and so the gap between oil supply and demand will continue to widen, and the situation of energy security is becoming increasingly tense. Therefore, to co-ordinate domestic and international oil resources and to search for oil resources from overseas have become an inevitable choice.
Africa has enormous oil resources. Its proved reserve accounts for 10% of the world which is second only to the region of Middle East and Central Asia in Europe, and it has the reputatiopn of “the second Middle East” in the world. As the wars and social unrest are constant in the Middle East , Africa is increasingly prominent with the position of “black gold”in the global.
Oil cooperation of Sino-Africa plays an important role in Sino-African cooperation. The cooperation of energy between China and African countries begins in the 1990s. Under the guidance of China’s“going out” strategy, China’s Petroleum companies carry out many exchanges and cooperations with African countries with the support of chinese goverment, and participate in Africa's oil projects actively.
In recent years, the investment of China’s Petroleum companies in Africa has made substantial progress. But there will be more variables and complex situations about the investment, and it is influenced by a range of environmental impact factors. Its environmental impact factors not only come from
home country and abroad, but also from the African oil-producing countries. Therefore, to analysis the environmental impact factors about the investment has a significant practical and theoretical significance. It not only provides a reference for foreign investment, but also makes a modest contribution to China's energy security and economic health.
This research methods are mainly theoretical and empirical analysis and quantitative and qualitative analysis. The main contents are as follows: At first, this paper raises the research question from the introduction,targets research orientation,commentates the existing literature and reviews the relevant theory;and concrete analyses the environmental impact of various factors of. Then, based on the above analysis it establishes an environmental assessment model of Chinese Petroleum Enterprises’ investment in Africa. Finally, it proposes several suggestions accordingly.
KEYWORDS: china’s petroleum companies, investment in Africa, environmental impact factors