據道瓊斯新西蘭惠靈頓8月9日消息，新西蘭唯一一家煉油廠的股東批準了一項將其改造為汽油進口終端的計劃，從明年起，新西蘭將停止煉油，這引發了有關燃料安全的辯論。

　　新西蘭煉油公司運營的Marsden Point煉油廠滿足了該國約70%的汽油、航空燃料和柴油需求，但由于利潤率低以及來自亞洲規模更大、效率更高的煉油廠的競爭，該煉油廠已變得不具經濟效益。疫情加速了富裕國家老舊煉油廠的關閉，而印度等國則提高了煉油產能。

　　這家煉油廠的股東8月6日幾乎一致投票決定將其改造為一個進口終端。該煉油廠的股東包括Z能源公司和?？松梨诘戎饕蛻簟能源表示，這一改變將為其業務釋放1.5億新西蘭元(1.06億美元)，其中一些將返還給股東。

　　這家煉油廠的300名員工中，大多數人將失去工作。工會已對失去這家他們認為具有戰略意義的國家資產及其對長期燃料安全可能產生的影響表示擔憂。

　　新西蘭依賴進口原油，該國煉油業的終結將意味著其對進口原油的依賴將轉變為對進口成品油的依賴。

　　張春曉 摘譯自 道瓊斯

　　原文如下：

　　New Zealand's Oil Refinery Set to Convert Into import Terminal

　　New Zealand will stop refining crude oil from next year after shareholders in the country's sole refinery greenlighted a plan to convert it to a gasoline-import terminal, stirring debate about fuel security.

　　The Marsden Point refinery operated by New Zealand Refining Co. meets about 70% of the country's gasoline, jet fuel and diesel needs but has become uneconomic due to low margins and competition from larger, more efficient refineries in Asia. The pandemic has accelerated the closure of older refineries in wealthy countries, while countries such as ?India increase refining capacity.

　　Shareholders in the refinery, which include its main customers such as Z Energy Ltd. and Exxon Mobil Corp., voted nearly unanimously on Friday to convert it into an import terminal. Z Energy has said the change will free up 150 million New Zealand dollars (US$106 million) for its business, some of which will be returned to shareholders.

　　Most of the refinery's 300 employees will lose their jobs and unions have expressed alarm at the loss of what they consider a strategic national asset and the possible implications for long-term fuel security.

　　New Zealand is reliant on imported crude and the end of the refining in the country will mean that its dependence shifts to a reliance on imported refined fuels instead.