2007年VOA标准英语-Estonia Refuses Survey for Russian-German Pipel

By Peter Fedynsky
Moscow
20 September 2007

Estonia has refused permission for a geological survey in its territorial¹ waters for a proposed gas pipeline² under the Baltic Sea. But VOA Moscow correspondent Peter Fedynsky says the Russian-German project will likely proceed with an alternate route.

Estonia says issues of sovereignty and national interest were behind a government decision to deny permission for a geological survey in the country's territorial waters for a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream, a Russian-German consortium, applied³ on May 31 for permission to conduct the study. Nord Stream hopes to open a 1,200-kilometer pipeline in 2010 to transport gas from Russia to Germany.

Estonian Foreign Ministry⁴ spokesperson Ehtel Halliste told the VOA that Nord Stream's request covered a large area of the country's economic zone, territorial waters, and continental⁵ shelf in the Gulf⁶ of Finland. "That kind of survey of the continental shelf requires drilling, and would provide information of the amount of Estonia's natural resources," said Halliste.

Some pipeline critics in Estonia say it could draw Russian military ships into Estonian waters under the pretext⁷ of protecting it. Spokesperson Halliste, however, says that was not a consideration in denying the survey permit.

Several European nations have expressed concern that the pipeline could damage the undersea environment. Nord Stream spokesman Jens Mueller says the survey request was made to allay⁸ Finnish concerns.

"Within the international consultation⁹ process, in the Finnish inclusive economic zone, we were asked by Finland to do some surveys, let us say to the benefit of the environment, and we cannot do this survey. Therefore, will come back to our existing plans and to our existing investigations¹⁰, and it is no damage for the project," said Mueller.

A statement issued by Nord Stream says the Estonian decision must be carefully studied before a further evaluation¹¹ can be made. The statement adds that the consortium will continue to work with countries bordering on the Baltic Sea to ensure timely construction of the pipeline.

Nord Stream could fall back on its original plan for construction of two parallel pipelines¹² through Finnish waters. The first is expected to become operational in 2010, with a capacity of more than 27 billion cubic meters per year. The second line is expected to double the volume to about 55 billion cubic meters.

Gazprom, the Russian State gas monopoly, has a 51 percent stake in the project. German companies BASF and E.ON each hold about 24 percent. 

1 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

2 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。

3 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

6 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

7 pretext   

n.借口，托词

参考例句：

• He used his headache as a pretext for not going to school.他借口头疼而不去上学。
• He didn't attend that meeting under the pretext of sickness.他以生病为借口，没参加那个会议。

8 allay   

v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等)

参考例句：

• The police tried to allay her fears but failed.警察力图减轻她的恐惧，但是没有收到什么效果。
• They are trying to allay public fears about the spread of the disease.他们正竭力减轻公众对这种疾病传播的恐惧。

9 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

10 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

11 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

12 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。