Standing in the late 1990s, China should not doubt that crude oil imports will continue to increase, but even the most imaginative person cannot foresee that China's crude oil imports will reach a huge scale of 400 million tons per year in less than 20 years. At that time, the concept of private cars had just begun to appear, and by the end of 2017, the number of private cars owned by Chinese residents had reached 170 million, and almost every two households owned one private car on average. With this, the soaring oil consumption.

Feng Xiaochen dared to promise Prince Bres that 30 million tons of crude oil imports per year was precisely because of such foresight. Experts from the Research Center of the Development and Planning Commission did not have such gold fingers, but they also believed that in the next 10 years, China's crude oil imports will reach more than 100 million tons per year, and it would not be a big deal to hand over 30% of the share to Saudi Arabia.

"However, youngest, I still admire you very much. With a three-inch tongue, I negotiated a low-interest loan of US$22 billion, which is comparable to the ability of many negotiating delegations of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Ministry of Finance. Our chief director said that Feng Xiaochen is worth a department of our plan committee."

After Wang Zhenbin made a fake complaint, he began to praise Feng Xiaochen.

Feng Xiaochen smiled and said, "Old Wang, are you claiming to be a praising me? Could it be that there is any conspiracy, right?"

Wang Zhenbin laughed: "What conspiracy can I have? If there is a conspiracy, it is also the conspiracy of our Grand Director. Oh, no, it should be said to be an instruction. Our Grand Director said that with this 22 billion, we originally planned to use the funds for the new refinery to build a new refinery, so we can save money on other aspects. It should be more than enough to use this 22 billion US dollars to build a low-sulfur oil refinery and three high-sulfur oil refineries, right?"

Feng Xiaochen nodded and said, "Yes, when I quoted Bres and the others, I made some ambush. In fact, it cannot be said to be ambushing, because it does cost more than 5 billion US dollars to build a 10 million tons refinery abroad, but now we have mastered the core technology of the refinery, and most of the equipment can be manufactured by themselves, and the construction cost can be reduced by more than one third. Using this 22 billion US dollars to build four refineries with an annual output of more than 15 million tons is enough."

"That's great!" Wang Zhenbin said happily, "In this way, we can save nearly 60 billion yuan in funds..."

"Don't be busy!" Feng Xiaochen made a gesture, interrupted Wang Zhenbin and continued: "The 60 billion yuan you just said cannot be removed. You must leave at least 20 billion yuan for me. I am useful."

"Are you useful?" Wang Zhenbin glared at Feng Xiaochen, "Youngest, this joke is so big. This is the fund we sent to the Planning Commission. You can leave us 20 billion when you open your mouth, and you also say that you are useful. Do you dare to tell our chief director about this?"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Feng Xiaochen shrugged, "Besides, I don't need to tell your chief that the 22 billion US dollars in the Middle East were negotiated by me. When negotiating with the foreign side, they had already said that the money was used to build three high-sulfur crude oil refineries. Even if it was to be changed from three to four, the fourth one should also be suitable for refining high-sulfur crude oil and cannot be used to build the low-sulfur refineries you planned. Regarding this, the cooperation letter signed by the Issuance Planning Commission and Bres also have clear provisions. Do you plan to breach the contract?"

Wang Zhenbin put away his teasing expression just now and said seriously: "Xiao Feng, aren't you kidding me? Didn't we agree that our contract with the foreign party will be signed for 22 billion yuan. On the surface, these loans will be used for these three high-sulfur oil refineries. In fact, you can use this money to build four refineries. All funds are all allocated to your equipment industry. How to use it specifically, where can the Middle Eastern people take care of it?"

Feng Xiaochen said: "They don't care, but we have to pay more attention to things, right? We built four refineries and the Commission did not invest a penny. Is this reasonable? They also have information channels. At that time, they said that we borrowed them in the name of building high-sulfur oil refineries, but the funds were misappropriated to other aspects. Isn't this affecting our international reputation?"

"Then there is no need for 20 billion, right? We can just invest a little symbolically," said Wang Zhenbin.

Feng Xiaochen said: "This is what I want to talk to you today. I hope the Development Planning Commission can establish a project, invest 20 billion yuan to build a coal liquefaction project with an annual output of 4 million tons. We have submitted plans in the past, but due to the insufficient state funds, the Development Planning Commission has been unable to approve the project. Now, taking advantage of the low-interest loans from the Middle East, we hope the Development Planning Commission can pass this project."

"Coal liquefaction? You are still making this idea." Wang Zhenbin was shocked.

Coal liquefaction, also known as coal-to-oil, is to use coal to produce gasoline, diesel, and synthetic wax, ethylene, propylene and other petrochemical products through a series of chemical processes, thereby achieving the effect of replacing oil with coal. The idea of ​​coal liquefaction was proposed as early as the beginning of the last century. As a country with oil scarcity and coal, South Africa began to study coal liquefaction in 1955 and achieved industrial production. During the oil crisis in the 1970s, Western countries generally carried out research on coal liquefaction and achieved fruitful results. However, as oil prices fell again, the urgency of coal liquefaction also decreased. Although there were many research results, there were few practical application projects.

my country began research on coal liquefaction in the early 1980s and built an experimental production line with an annual output of 1,000 tons. However, due to technical problems, the cost of coal-to-oil remains high. Compared with the low oil price, coal-to-oil is completely uncompetitive, so this technology can only stay in the experimental stage and cannot be applied on a large scale.

China has abundant coal reserves and limited oil reserves. Carrying out coal liquefaction can reduce its dependence on imported oil, which is very important for the country's energy security. The senior management is also very clear about this. However, economic constraints determine that China cannot place coal liquefaction in priority. The country cannot let all departments of the national economy give up cheap oil and choose expensive coal-to-oil for energy security. The equipment company reported to the previous State Planning Commission to launch a large-scale coal liquefaction demonstration project. The Planning Commission repeatedly rejected it. After all, it is because of two words: no money!

This time, Feng Xiaochen defrauded US$22 billion from the Middle East Oil Bar, solving the urgent need of the Development Planning Commission. The Development Planning Commission had just breathed a sigh of relief and was thinking about where to use the saved money. Who knew that Feng Xiaochen had set his sights on this money and started to reiterate the old words.

"Our country's oil imports are getting bigger and bigger, and its dependence on foreign countries is increasing. Is the Development and Planning Commission not at all worried?" Feng Xiaochen asked.

Wang Zhenbin said: "How could it be that you are not worried? Just agreeing to import 40 million tons of Middle East oil every year, the Development and Planning Commission has debated for several months. The core issue is the security of crude oil supply. The security situation in the Gulf region is very bad now. Some leaders have proposed that if the war in the Middle East recurs and involves surrounding countries, can our oil supply be guaranteed? Will these newly built refineries face a cook without rice?"

"This is completely possible." Feng Xiaochen said confidently.

"Also, even if the oil supply is guaranteed, what if another oil crisis occurs? In recent months, the international crude oil market price has soared, and a barrel of crude oil has risen by $10. If it continues, we can't afford so much crude oil at all."

"Haha, according to my prediction, a $10 increase is just an appetizer. It will not be an unexpected event for oil prices to rise to $100 per barrel in the future."

"100 US dollars! Xiao Feng, don't scare me!" Wang Zhenbin was really scared by Feng Xiaochen's big talk. In 1998, the international oil price was less than US$20 per barrel. China imported 40 million tons of crude oil a year, spending about US$6 billion. In the future, the import volume increased to more than 100 million tons. If the price of crude oil per barrel exceeds US$100, wouldn't it cost to reach US$70 billion? Can the country provide so much foreign exchange?

Feng Xiaochen smiled slightly and did not answer. Wang Zhenbin was silent for a moment, nodded and said, "Although you are a bit alarmist, it cannot be said that it is impossible. By that day, coal liquefaction will be very necessary. At that time, the price of coal to oil may be lower than that of oil."

"No matter how the price of coal-to-oil is, we have this weapon, which is much better than being unarmed. If foreign countries impose oil embargoes on us or use oil to blackmail us, we can handle it calmly after we have mastered the ability to liquefy coal. Those oil tyrants in the Middle East cannot believe the character of the oil tyrants. We must be careful that they turn against each other." Feng Xiaochen said.

Wang Zhenbin smiled and said, "Xiao Feng, no wonder Yu Rui has always said that you are extremely smart. You just shook hands with Bres and had a low-interest loan of $22 billion from him. When you turned around, you began to say that his character was unreliable and he had to be on guard against him. Is this considered a businessman without any traitor?"

Feng Xiaochen said seriously: "Old Wang, this is not called being a businessman without a traitor, it is called preparing for the future. I actually want to be friends with Bres, but the other party holds my handle and I have nothing in my hand. This is destined to be a friend. To be a friend, you must have equal abilities, otherwise we can only kneel down and wait for others to give us benefits. You just said that I have the ability to borrow 22 billion US dollars from Prince Bres. In fact, this is not my ability, but the development of China's economy to this extent, and they have to bow to us."
Chapter completed!