Nuclear power
Half Life
The Economist November 11th 2006, p63-64
The nuclear industry is predicting a rapid expansion - but that will not happen without government help.
這一篇是在討論核能的發展性，就目前為止，在油價上漲的時刻，核能已經成為乾淨又便宜的能源之一。而就商業以及科技的觀點來說，核能應該是一個可以被看好的產業。但是重點不在於commercial or technological consideration, 而在於政府是否支援，以及政治上的考量，各國核能的發展是否成功就看政府以及民眾對於核能發電的接受程度了。
不過我有一段看不懂，在提到Finland 核能發電廠的財務模式時：
The reactor that Areva is building in Finland might have dispelled worries about the commercial viability of new plants, were it not behind schedule and over budget itself. Areva dismisses these setbacks as the typical teething pains that come with any new design, but the result is a big hole in its balance sheet: its reactor division reported a loss of euro266m ($340m) in the first half of the year. Moreover, it will not be easy to replicate the Finnish reactor's financial model. The consortium of utilities and their main customers that is paying for the reactor will also purchase it output at cost, providing an assured market and so lowering borrowing costs and dispensing with the need for profits.
這裡提到的main customers是誰呢？為何同時付費時也會購買其產出，付費跟購買產出有什麼不一樣嗎？
字典參考：dr. eye, Merriam-Webster
- think-tank-cum-watchdog:
- think tank: an institute, corporation, or group organized for interdisciplinary research (as in technological and social problems) -- called also think factory
- cum: along with being : AND -- used to form usually hyphenated phrases [a credible mining camp elder-cum-publican --G. B. Shaw]
所以"a think-tank-cum-watchdog"應該翻譯成"一個跨學術領域的研究及監守機構" - conglomerate: a widely diversified corporation
- carbon dioxide: 二氧化碳
- uranium: a silvery heavy radioactive polyvalent metallic element that is found especially in uraninite and exists naturally as a mixture of mostly nonfissionable isotopes 鈾
- tout: to make much of : PROMOTE, TALK UP [touted as the summer's blockbuster movie]
- merit: a praiseworthy quality : VIRTUE
- euphemism: the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant，委婉說詞
- derail: to cause to run off the rails, 使出軌
- outlay: EXPENDITURE, PAYMENT
- susceptible: open, subject, or unresistant to some stimulus, influence, or agency
- afflict: to distress so severely as to cause persistent suffering or anguish
- all the more: 更、愈
- teething: the phenomena accompanying growth of teeth through the gums
- consortium: an agreement, combination, or group (as of companies) formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member
- skittish: easily frightened : RESTIVE。易受驚嚇、怯懦的
- qualm: a sudden access of usually disturbing emotion (as doubt or fear)。疑慮、擔心
- raft: a large collection or number; a raft of: 大量的
- pass the cost onto customers or taxpayers: 轉嫁成本到顧客或納稅人身上
- dirigiste: adj of "dirigisme", economic planning and control by the state
- lobby: (v) to attempt to influence or sway (as a public official) toward a desired action
- on behalf of: 代表
- vying: present part of VIE
vie: to strive for superiority : CONTEND, COMPETE - aftermath: CONSEQUENCE, RESULT [stricken with guilt as an aftermath of the accident]
- coalition: a temporary alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action
- outright: in entirety : COMPLETELY
- chancellor: the chief minister of state in some European countries
- defray: to provide for the payment of : PAY
沒有留言:
張貼留言