VOA常速英语2007-Pipeline Plan to Bypass Bosporus Has Doubters

By Barry Wood
Washington
11 October 2007
 

Last March, the leaders of Russia, Bulgaria and Greece signed an agreement to build a $1 billion pipeline¹ to bypass the Bosporus and carry Russian and Central Asian oil directly to the Mediterranean² at the Greek port of Alexandroupolis. But as VOA's Barry Wood reports, not everyone is convinced the pipeline will be built.   

The Bosporus Strait that slices through Istanbul and separates Europe from Asia serves as a vital passage for oil tankers⁴ sailing between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. And for 10 years, Ed Chow says he has heard talk of a pipeline to avoid it. The energy analyst⁵ says there is an economic reason why such a bypass has not yet been built. "It is, of course, much cheaper to ship oil by tanker³ through the Bosporus today, and will continue to be, than to invest in a $1 billion or $1 billion plus pipeline system," he says. 

Chow explains that situation puts oil companies that would use the bypass pipeline at a cost disadvantage.

"If the Russian companies use the pipeline, does that mean that western companies that have oil in the Black Sea, like BP, Exxon, or Chevron⁶, are going to get a free ride from the Russians by shipping⁷ their oil through the Bosporus at a lower cost?"

Chow says a bypass is likely to be built only when western oil companies sign on to the project. But in the Greek port of Alexandroupolis, the economic benefits promised by the planned pipeline from Bulgaria are eagerly awaited. George Alexandris is the mayor of Alexandroupolis. "We think it is a very good project for Alexandroupolis, for our country, and for Greece…it is the first time we've had to do such a big project."

Greek businessman Vasilios Charovas envisions an investment boom in northern Greece after the pipeline's scheduled completion in 2010. "For sure. This is an alternative solution for the transportation for all the containers coming from the Black Sea to Europe or from the Russian side to enter the Mediterranean area."

Albania's prime minister, Sali Berisha, is counting on the construction of a second Balkan pipeline, from Bulgaria to Albania. The deep water Albanian port of Vlore can handle bigger tankers than Alexandroupolis. And it is closer to western markets. "(But) To reach Italy, it (Vlore) is 200 kilometers shorter. This is the truth."

Mr. Berisha is looking for international assistance and is courting Kazakhstan and other oil exporters in the Caspian Basin. "We have very good relations with Central Asia. We're working with them for the source (of oil)."

If there is to be a winner in the Balkans pipeline race, it is likely to be the one that gains the support of major oil companies.

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 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

3 tanker   

n.油轮

参考例句：

• The tanker took on 200,000 barrels of crude oil.油轮装载了二十万桶原油。
• Heavy seas had pounded the tanker into three parts.汹涌的巨浪把油轮撞成三载。

4 tankers   

运送大量液体或气体的轮船[卡车]( tanker的名词复数 )； 油轮； 罐车； 油槽车

参考例句：

• They should stop offloading waste from oil tankers into the sea. 他们应当停止从油轮上往海里倾倒废弃物。
• The harbour admits large tankers and freighters. 这个港口容得下巨型油船和货轮。

5 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。

6 chevron   

n.V形臂章；V形图案

参考例句：

• He wore shoulderstrap rank slides with sergeant's chevrons.他佩戴标示级别的肩章，上面有中士的V形标志。
• The chevron or arrow road sign indicates a sharp bend to the left or right.V形或箭头路标表示有向左或向右的急转弯。

7 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。