VOA标准英语2009年-Iranian, Russian Technicians Test Bushehr Nucle

Iranian and Russian officials began a test run of Iran's first nuclear plant on Wednesday, after repeated delays in making the plant operational. An Iranian official says the test run was done with computers and uranium was not used.

The pilot operations at the 1,000-megawatt light-water reactor¹, built with Russian assistance under a $1 billion contract, have long been delayed, amid the ongoing² controversy³ in the West over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Journalists observe test
　
A general view shows the reactor building of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran (File)

Foreign and Iranian journalists were allowed to film the Bushehr plant, as its reactor was switched on, then loaded with non-nuclear fuel rods made of lead. Enriched uranium is needed to operate the plant normally.

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Gholam-Reza Aghazadeh conducted the inaugural⁴ test run along with the head of Russia's nuclear energy agency Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko. Aghazadeh, speaking here through a translator, described the development to Iran's Press TV.

"I hope that the pre-commissioning of this power plant will pave the way for increasing its capacity to 1000 megawatts. Iran and Russia have been working in close cooperation, particularly over the past few months to complete the nuclear plant and the project has been proceeding⁵ at a fast pace," he said. "Hopefully, the power plant will soon generate electricity."

IAEA inspectors⁶ will keep an eye on activities

Russia built the Bushehr plant under the supervision⁷ of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, whose inspectors will also keep tabs on its activities, as well as its Russian fuel suppliers, 24 hours a day. Western officials are concerned that Iran could use its nuclear program to make fuel for a nuclear weapon, a charge Iran denies.

Iranian nuclear expert Mohsen Shirazi told Iranian TV that the usage of lead-based fuel rods in Wednesday's test run "will enable us to simulate the first cycle's hydraulic⁸ conditions for hot and cold tests."

Reports also say that Iranian nuclear scientists will also schedule a date to insert uranium fuel rods, if Wednesday's test is deemed a success.

The plant, which will run on enriched uranium imported from Russia, has worried the West because the spent fuel could later be turned into plutonium, potential material for nuclear warheads. But concerns over the reactor softened⁹ somewhat after Iran agreed to return spent fuel to Russia to ensure Tehran does not reprocess it into plutonium. Russia's fuel deliveries to Iran began in 2007.

Analyst¹⁰: test is not a milestone¹¹

Paul Ingram, executive director of the British American Security Information Council, says Wednesday's test is no great milestone in Iran's possible road to nuclear proliferation.

"I wouldn't use words like threshold with respect to Bushehr, because even if they have managed to fire it up properly and even if in the next couple of months they have Bushehr operating at its appropriate capacity and producing electricity, it is relatively¹² fool-proof when it comes to proliferation, when compared to other activities within Iran because the fuel rods are being supplied by Russia," said Ingram. "It is not possible for Iranians to supply their own fuel to Bushehr and the fuel rods will come out at the end of the process irradiated and will be picked up by Russia for reprocessing within Russia."

Natanz plant poses bigger threat

Ingram notes that the real danger of Iranian nuclear proliferation comes from its Natanz nuclear enrichment plant, which produces low-grade enriched uranium.

"There is certainly concern that the Iranians are building up their stocks of low enriched uranium. The larger the stock of low enriched uranium and the more centrifuges they have operating at Natanz, the closer they are to a possible breakout capability¹³," he said. "Again, it's a matter of several months, and they will have to throw out the [International Atomic Energy] agency inspectors and do some pretty transparent¹⁴ things, transparent in terms of going for a nuclear weapons capability, if they were to abuse their positions. But, there certainly is concern."

Iran is presently in violation¹⁵ of UN Security Council resolutions. The council has passed three sets of sanctions against Iran over uranium enrichment and is considering further measures. Tehran, for its part, claims that it is exercising its right to civilian¹⁶ nuclear energy, as permitted by the Nuclear Non-Proliferations Treaty, NPT.

The Security Council wants Iran to suspend enrichment and other nuclear activities in order to determine that they are intended for civilian purposes.

1 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

5 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

6 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

8 hydraulic   

adj.水力的；水压的，液压的；水力学的

参考例句：

• The boat has no fewer than five hydraulic pumps.这艘船配有不少于5个液压泵。
• A group of apprentics were operating the hydraulic press.一群学徒正在开动水压机。

9 softened   

（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰

参考例句：

• His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
• The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。

10 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。

11 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

12 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

13 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

14 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

15 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

16 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。