2006年VOA标准英语-Russian Gas Supplies Resume to Neighboring

By Bill Gasperini
Moscow
29 January 2006
 
 
Georgian man wheels in a barrow of free firewood distributed by the authorities in Tbilisi, 29 January 2006
  
Russian natural gas has begun to flow through the main pipeline¹ to neighboring Georgia one week after several unexplained explosions damaged the line. The interruption created hardship for people in Georgia and led to new tensions in the relationship between the two countries.

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Officials say the delivery of gas has resumed through the main pipeline from southern Russia across the Caucasus Mountains to Georgia and neighboring Armenia.

Both countries faced severe shortages of gas following two mysterious explosions that ruptured² the pipeline a week ago.

Igor Tkachenko is an official with the gas transit³ company in the southern Russian region of North Ossetia.

Tkachenko says emergency crews in the mountainous area labored⁴ hard to repair the damage in difficult conditions, and that now gas is again reaching Georgia.

Russian investigators⁵ have described the explosions as acts of terrorism, but have not yet determined⁶ who carried them out.

Electricity supplies were also interrupted after a third explosion destroyed a pylon⁷ in the mountains.

Georgian officials have confirmed that gas is again arriving, but that many people would remain without full power for at least another week.

The gas crisis led to a sharp exchange between Russia and Georgia, whose relations have been tense since President Mikhail Saakashvili was swept to power in the Rose Revolution over two years ago.

Mr. Saakashvili and other top officials have all but accused Russia of deliberately⁸ carrying out the sabotage⁹ to apply economic pressure on his country.

The Georgian leader has vowed¹⁰ to seek alternate sources for its gas, and last week reached agreement with Iran to begin supplying gas as early as this week.

Georgia and Russia are not the only countries in the region arguing over energy.

Russia's giant gas company Gazprom has repeatedly accused Ukraine of diverting gas intended for customers in western Europe that goes through pipelines¹¹ that cross its territory.

Gas supplies have been of concern throughout Europe since Gazprom cut off the flow to Ukraine on New Year's Day due to a price dispute.

Although the two countries did reach an agreement, the shortfall in supplies has also led Europe to seek alternate sources of supply.

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 ruptured   

v.（使）破裂( rupture的过去式和过去分词 )；（使体内组织等）断裂；使（友好关系）破裂；使绝交

参考例句：

• They reported that the pipeline had ruptured. 他们报告说管道已经破裂了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The wall through Berlin was finally ruptured, prefiguring the reunification of Germany. 柏林墙终于倒塌了，预示着德国的重新统一。 来自辞典例句

3 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。

4 labored   

adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing. 我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。 来自辞典例句
• They have labored to complete the job. 他们努力完成这一工作。 来自辞典例句

5 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 pylon   

n.高压电线架，桥塔

参考例句：

• A lineman is trying to repair the damaged pylon.线务员正试图修理被损坏的电缆塔。
• Erection of the pylon required a crane of 1000 ton capacity.塔架安装需用起重量达1000吨的吊机。

8 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

9 sabotage   

n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏

参考例句：

• They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
• The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。

10 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

11 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。