VOA标准英语2009年-Turkey Seeks to Make Nabucco More Than Pipe Dre

As a result of the disruption of gas supplies to the European Union from Russia, Turkey is now positioning itself as an alternative route for energy with the proposed Nabucco pipeline¹. But the new pipeline does not come without its own problems and risks.
　
Turkey's Minister of Energy Mehmet Hilmi Guler (l) pictured after signing ceremony for Nabucco gas pipeline in Vienna, 05 Feb 2008

The multibillion-dollar Nabucco pipeline project is seen as one of Europe's best hopes for limiting its dependence² on Russian gas.

The European Union has stepped up efforts to diversify³ its energy sources since Russia's invasion of Georgia last summer and amid a dispute between Moscow and Kiev that has curtailed⁴ supplies across Ukraine to Europe.

According to energy expert Kate Hardin, diversification⁵ of energy sources is key.

"I think that what happened with the Ukrainian gas cut. I think that actually motivated the Europeans to look again at their reliance on single suppliers of gas," said Hardin. "So even though they have various sources right now - Algeria, Libya, Russia, LNG - I think they took a second look at that and perhaps better diversification would better suit us and certainly Turkey as a potential bridge for eastern gas does play a role there."

The intended route for the Nabucco pipeline is from the Caspian Sea to Turkey and on to Europe through Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.

Former Turkish energy official Mithat Mende says the need for alternative routes will increase in the future.

"Europe's natural gas consumption will grow by at least 70 percent by 2030," said Mende. "I believe, given our geography and potential, we can provide a good contribution to Europe with respect to enhancing their energy supply security. Nabucco is the best example of this."

The role of Turkey as an energy bridge to Europe is seen by Ankara as important bargaining chip in its bid to join the EU.

But Turkey's bid to join, which began with negotiations⁶ in 2005, has been limping along over disputes concerning the Greek government of Cyprus, which is blocking talks on the energy section of the bid. Energy is one of the 35 areas, or so-called chapters, in Turkey's accession talks.
　
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, left, welcomes Turkey's PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his arrival at the EU Council in Brussels, 19 Jan 2009

In a rare visit to Brussels Monday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that he will review his support for the Nabucco gas pipeline to Europe if the energy portion of its EU accession talks remains⁷ blocked.

"If we are faced with a situation where the energy chapter is blocked, we would of course review our position," he said.

Mr. Erdogan's comment was angrily denounced by some European politicians, with one German minister accused Turkey of blackmail⁸ over the pipeline.

Analyst⁹ Hugh Pope of the International Crisis Group has a different perspective on the Turkish prime minister's comment.

"Right now Turkey is about to run out of chapters to negotiate with the European Union. Because of all kinds of blockages¹⁰ within the European Union. If we are talking about blackmail, there is a lot of pushing and shoving going in the European Union, and for the European Union to behave like Erdogan's demand comes out of nowhere is a little simplistic," said Pope.

Following strong European reaction, Mr. Erdogan, seemed to back down saying Turkey would never interfere¹¹ in the completion of the pipeline.

But analysts¹² say, despite this pledge, European leaders still have concerns. Ankara is reportedly demanding higher transit¹³ fees and the right to use some of the gas rather than simply sending it all to Western Europe.

But Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler says they are committed to resolving the dispute.

The latest natural gas crisis has demonstrated that Turkey's insistence¹⁴ on wrapping up Nabucco is very well-founded, he said.

Building energy pipelines¹⁵ are usually major engineering achievements. But as in the case of Nabucco, overcoming the politics surrounding them are usually just as formidable.

1 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。

2 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

3 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。

4 curtailed   

v.截断，缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Spending on books has been severely curtailed. 购书开支已被大大削减。
• Their public health programme had to be severely curtailed. 他们的公共卫生计划不得不大大收缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 diversification   

n.变化，多样化；多种经营

参考例句：

• The seminar was to discuss diversification of agriculture. 该研讨会讨论的是农业多种经营。 来自辞典例句
• Firm diversification is increasingly achieved by the means of takeover and merger. 通过接管和兼并，厂商经营范围日益多样化。 来自辞典例句

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 blackmail   

n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓

参考例句：

• She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
• The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 blockages   

n.堵塞物( blockage的名词复数 )；堵塞，阻塞

参考例句：

• The storms could increase the risks posed by river blockages. 暴风雨会增加因河道堵塞所造成的危险。 来自互联网
• An angiogram shows the location and severity of blockages in blood vessels. 冠状动脉造影能够显示血管内的阻塞位置以及阻塞的严重程度。 来自互联网

11 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

13 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。

14 insistence   

n.坚持；强调；坚决主张

参考例句：

• They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。
• His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。

15 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。