Oil accounts for about half Kuwait's gross1 domestic2 product and 80 percent of government income. Like many Arab Gulf nations, Kuwait relies heavily on imported labor and expertise. The country's natural heritage3 has been solely4 in the hands of Kuwait companies since the government nationalized5 the oil industry in the 1970s. Foreign energy companies continued to play a role but served only as hired hands.          

石油約佔科威特國內生產總額的一半，以及政府收入的百分之八十。像許多阿拉伯灣國家一樣，科威特倚重進口勞工和專業技術與知識。自從政府在一九七○年代將石油工業國有化，該國的自然遺產一直由科威特公司獨攬，外國能源公司只扮演雇工角色。

Now with most of the precious oil fields aging6 and declining,7 Kuwait is eager to open new fields and is considering handing over power - though limited - to foreign oil companies that have the technical know-how to  help stretch what remains and develop what's yet to be discovered.

目前，隨著大部分珍貴的油田漸趨老化、衰微，科威特熱切想望開發新油田，並考慮有限度地授權給具有技術與知識的外國石油公司，以協助拓展剩餘的油田，並開發尚未發現的油田。

Project Kuwait, a controversial US$ 8.5 billion plan before the country's parliament,8 would allow - for the first time in 34 years - international oil companies to power over Kuwait's oil production levels, which are currently about 2.4 million barrels9 per day. It would also give the oil giants much greater influence over global oil supplies and pricing once they regained a foothold10 in this country.

一項受到該國議會爭議，八十五億美金的「科威特計畫」，將成為三十四年來首次允許國際石油公司，凌駕科威特的石油生產水準（目前一天約兩百四十萬桶）。該計畫一旦使石油大戶在科威特站穩腳步，他們在全球石油供應和價格上也將更具影響力。

But while global energy executives may be eager to begin drilling under the Kuwaiti desert, many here don't want to relinquish11 any national control of the lucrative12 oil fields. If Kuwait allows foreign majors back in, it will be laying the groundwork for long-term dependence on outside help.

雖然全球能源主管人員也許熱切想要開始在科威特的沙漠下鑽探石油，此間卻有許多人不想將國家對賺錢油田的任何控制權讓渡出去。如果科威特允許外國石油大戶介入，基本上勢必將長期依賴外援。