🎧 Audio
📖 Script
Recently, Bowen Coking Coal, a company responsible for mining coal, has entered into administration. This means they have appointed specialists to help manage the company due to financial difficulties. The main issue arose because Bowen Coking Coal was unable to reach an agreement with the Queensland government to delay payments on the royalties they owe for mining coal. Royalties are payments made to the government for using natural resources, like coal.
The financial troubles of Bowen Coking Coal have put about 500 jobs at risk. These jobs are primarily based at the company’s mining operations in Queensland, Australia. The company has been facing challenges due to a slump in coal prices. When coal prices drop, companies earn less money, which can make it difficult to cover costs and pay debts. This situation has made it hard for Bowen Coking Coal to stay financially stable.
Entering administration is a way for companies to try to avoid going bankrupt. During this process, administrators will look at the company’s finances and operations to see if they can save the business or if they will need to sell off assets to pay creditors. The administrators hope to find a solution that will keep the company running and save as many jobs as possible.
The impact of this situation is not only significant for the employees but also for the local economy. Many people in the area depend on the coal mining industry for their livelihoods. If the company fails to recover, it could have a ripple effect on other businesses and services that rely on the coal mine and its workers.
This situation highlights the volatility of industries reliant on commodity prices, such as coal. Companies in these sectors must manage risks related to price fluctuations, government policies, and environmental regulations. The future of Bowen Coking Coal will depend on how well the administrators manage these challenges and whether they can negotiate new terms with the government.
📝 Vocabulary
- administration: the process of managing a company that cannot pay its debts
例文: “The company went into administration to restructure its debts.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- enter administration
- under administration
- appoint administrators
管理 - deferment: the action of delaying or postponing something
例文: “The deferment of payments helped the company manage its cash flow.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- deferment plan
- deferment period
- request deferment
延期 - royalty: a payment made to the owner of a resource for its use
例文: “The company pays royalties to the government for mining rights.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- pay royalties
- receive royalties
- royalty payment
使用料 - slump: a severe or prolonged fall in the price, value, or amount of something
例文: “There was a slump in demand for coal last year.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- economic slump
- price slump
- market slump
低迷 - creditor: a person or company to whom money is owed
例文: “The company has several creditors it needs to pay.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- secure creditor
- main creditor
- creditor meeting
債権者
✏️ Grammar Point
Conditionals – “If the company fails to recover, it could have a ripple effect on other businesses and services.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
条件文は、未来の出来事や結果についての予測や仮説を述べるときに使われます。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: Bowen Coking Coal has successfully negotiated deferment on its coal royalties.
- MCQ: What has Bowen Coking Coal appointed due to financial difficulties?
a) New managers
b) Administrators
c) Government officials
d) Economists - MCQ: Why are about 500 jobs at risk?
a) The company is expanding operations
b) There is a decrease in coal demand
c) The company is facing financial difficulties
d) The government is imposing new taxes
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- b) Administrators
- c) The company is facing financial difficulties
📚 Reading Questions
- What problem did Bowen Coking Coal face with the Queensland government?
- Why is the situation at Bowen Coking Coal significant for the local economy?
- What does the word “volatility” suggest about the coal industry?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- Bowen Coking Coal could not negotiate a deferment on coal royalties with the Queensland government.
- The situation is significant because many local jobs and businesses depend on the coal mining industry.
- Volatility suggests that the coal industry is unstable and subject to rapid changes.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
最近、Bowen Coking Coal社が経営難に陥り、管理手続きに入ったことが報じられました。オーストラリア・クイーンズランド州に拠点を置くこの会社は、州政府とのロイヤリティ支払いの延期交渉に失敗したため、約500人の雇用が危機にさらされています。石炭価格の低迷が経営に影響を与えており、将来的には地域経済や関連産業にも影響を及ぼす可能性があります。この問題は、資源価格に依存する産業の不安定さを浮き彫りにしており、今後の対応が注目されます。
