2007年VOA标准英语-Belarus Hit by 45 Percent Cut in Russian Gas Su

By Peter Fedynsky
Moscow
01 August 2007

Gazprom, Russia's state-owned gas monopoly, has announced a 45 percent reduction of natural gas supplies to neighboring Belarus.  About 20 percent of the gas Russia delivers to other European countries transits² through Belarus, which raises concerns about the reliability³ of Gazprom as a supplier.  VOA Correspondent Peter Fedynsky has this report from Moscow.

pipeline4 near Nesvizh, Belarus, 29 Dec. 2006 (file photo)" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070804/0930460.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

A Belarusian worker is on duty at a gas compressor station at the Yamal-Europe pipeline near Nesvizh, Belarus, 29 Dec 2006 (file photo)

The Russian state-owned gas monopoly, Gazprom, says the 45 percent reduction of natural gas deliveries to Belarus goes into effect Friday.  Gazprom says Belarus missed a payment last week. 

Gazprom and Belarus signed a last-minute contract on December 31 last year, which more than doubled the price of gas for Minsk.  To soften⁵ the economic blow, Belarus was allowed to defer⁶ 45 percent of its natural gas payments for the first half of this year. 

Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kuprianov says the balance was to have been paid by July 23.

Kuprianov says it is already August 1, and there is no payment on the debt, which currently amounts to $456 million, nor is there any guarantee the balance will be paid.

The reduction means the economy of Belarus will lose about 21 million cubic meters of gas each day.  At the same time, 20 percent of the gas Russia delivers to other European countries transits via pipelines⁷ through Belarus. 

Gazprom spokesman Kiprianov says the volume of gas transiting⁸ through the territory of Belarus to consumers in other countries will be maintained in full.

The company's European clients suffered gas shortages in January 2006, when Ukraine, also a transit¹ country, skimmed supplies after Gazprom reduced deliveries to that country to enforce a sharp price hike.

The Ukrainian gas dispute sparked widespread discussions about the need for alternative energy sources in countries that rely heavily on Russian gas.

1 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

2 transits   

通过（transit的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The anomalistic year is the time between successive transits of the Earth through the perihelion. 近点年是地球连续两次通过近日点之间的时间。
• Paradigm study gradually transits to exemplification study in civil society theory. 当前我国的市民社会理论正逐步从范式研究转向范例研究。

3 reliability   

n.可靠性，确实性

参考例句：

• We mustn't presume too much upon the reliability of such sources.我们不应过分指望这类消息来源的可靠性。
• I can assure you of the reliability of the information.我向你保证这消息可靠。

4 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

5 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。

6 defer   

vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从

参考例句：

• We wish to defer our decision until next week.我们希望推迟到下星期再作出决定。
• We will defer to whatever the committee decides.我们遵从委员会作出的任何决定。

7 pipelines   

管道( pipeline的名词复数 )； 输油管道； 在考虑（或规划、准备） 中； 在酿中

参考例句：

• The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
• The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

8 transiting   

通过（transit的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• The effect of the transiting mechanic required reserve system vehicle is low. 准备金制度的传导机制的作用是很低的。
• I was busy transiting to the telescope. 我正忙着旋转望远镜。