At the end of the 90s, China would not have doubted that its crude oil imports would continue to increase, but even the most imaginative could not have foreseen that in less than 20 years, China's crude oil imports could reach a huge scale of 400 million tons per year. At that time, the concept of private cars was still beginning to emerge, and by the end of 2017, the number of private cars owned by Chinese residents had reached 170 million, almost one for every two households, and with it a surge in oil consumption.

Feng Xiaochen dared to promise Prince Bryce 30 million tons of crude oil imports per year, precisely because of such foresight. The experts at the NDPC Research Center do not have such golden fingers, but they also believe that in the next 10 years, China's crude oil imports will reach more than 100 million tons per year, and it is not a big deal to hand over 30 percent of this share to Saudi Arabia.

"However, my boss, I still admire you, with a three-inch tongue, you negotiated a low-interest loan of 22 billion US dollars, which is more than the ability of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Finance to negotiate with them. Our senior director has said that a Feng Xiaochen is worthy of a division of our Development and Planning Commission. ”

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

Feng Xiaochen smiled and said, "Lao Wang, are you killing me?

Wang Zhenbin laughed: "What conspiracy can I have, if there is a conspiracy, it is also the conspiracy of our director." Ah, no, it should be said that it is an instruction. Our chief director said that with this 22 billion, the funds we originally planned to use for the new refinery can be saved and used in other aspects. With this $22 billion, it should be more than enough to build one low-sulfur refinery and three high-sulfur refineries, right?"

Feng Xiaochen nodded and said, "That's right, when I made an offer to Breis, I set up a little ambush. In fact, it can't be said to be an ambush, because it does cost more than $5 billion to build a 10 million ton refinery abroad, but we now have the core technology of the refinery, most of the equipment can be manufactured by ourselves, and the construction cost can be reduced by more than one-third, and the funds are enough to build four refineries with an annual output of more than 15 million tons with this $22 billion. ”

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

"Don't be busy!" Feng Xiaochen made a gesture, interrupted Wang Zhenbin's words, and continued: "The 60 billion yuan you just said can't be moved away, at least 20 billion must be left for me, I will be useful." ”

"Are you useful?" Wang Zhenbin glared at Feng Xiaochen, "Boss, this joke is too big, this is the funds of our Development and Planning Commission, you will let us leave 20 billion with one mouth, and say that you are useful, do you dare to tell our director about this?"

"What don't you dare. Feng Xiaochen shrugged, "Besides, I don't need to tell your director, I negotiated the $22 billion in the Middle East, and when I negotiated with foreign parties, people have already said that the money is used to build three sour crude oil refineries, even if it is changed from three to four, this fourth should also be suitable for refining sour crude oil, and cannot be used to build the low-sulfur refinery you planned." On this point, the letter of intent signed by the NDPC and Bryce also clearly stipulates that you plan to breach the contract?"

Wang Zhenbin put away the expression he had just laughed at and said seriously: "Xiao Feng, aren't you joking with me? Didn't we say that the contract between us and the foreign party was signed according to 22 billion yuan, and on the surface, these loans will all be used for these three high-sulfur refineries, but in fact, you can use the money to build four oil refineries." The funds are allocated to your equipment industry, how to use it, and where can the Middle Easterners manage it?"

Feng Xiaochen said: "People can't take care of it, but we have to be more particular about doing things, right? We have built four oil refineries, and the Development and Planning Commission has not invested a penny, is this reasonable? People also have information channels, and when the time comes, they say that we have borrowed money from them in the name of building a high-sulfur oil refinery, but the funds have been misappropriated to other areas, and this will not affect our international reputation?"

"It doesn't take 20 billion, right? Wang Zhenbin said.

Feng Xiaochen said: "This is what I want to talk to you about today. I hope that the NDPC will set up a project and invest 20 billion yuan to build a coal liquefaction project with an annual output of 4 million tons. In the past, we have also submitted plans in this regard, but due to insufficient state funds, the NDPC has been unable to approve the project for a long time. Now, taking advantage of the low-interest loans from the Middle East, we hope that the NDPC will be able to approve this project. ”

"Coal liquefaction? You're still working on this idea. Wang Zhenbin was shocked.

Coal liquefaction, also known as coal-to-liquid, is the use of coal to produce gasoline, diesel, synthetic wax, ethylene, propylene and other petrochemical products through a series of chemical processes, so as to achieve the effect of replacing oil with coal. The idea of coal liquefaction was put forward as early as the beginning of the last century. As a country lacking oil and coal, South Africa has been conducting research on coal liquefaction since 1955 and has achieved industrial production. During the oil crisis in the 70s, research on coal liquefaction was widely carried out in Western countries, and fruitful results were achieved. However, as oil prices have fallen again, so has the urgency of coal liquefaction, and although there are many research results, there are few practical application projects.

In the early 80s, China began the research work of coal liquefaction, and built an experimental production line with an annual output of 1,000 tons. However, due to technical problems, the cost of coal-to-liquid remains high, and compared with the relatively low price of oil, coal-to-liquid 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, and it is very important for the country's energy security to carry out coal liquefaction to reduce its dependence on imported oil, which is also very important for the country's energy security. However, economic constraints have prevented China from prioritizing coal liquefaction, and the country cannot afford to make all sectors of the national economy abandon cheap oil in favor of expensive coal-to-liquids for the sake of energy security. The equipment company reported to the previous State Planning Commission to launch a large-scale coal liquefaction demonstration project, but the Planning Commission repeatedly rejected it, in the final analysis, because of two words: no money!

This time, Feng Xiaochen swindled $22 billion from the Middle East oil tyrants, which solved the urgent need of the Development and Planning Commission. The Development and Planning Commission just breathed a sigh of relief, and was thinking about what to use the saved money for, who knew that Feng Xiaochen was actually eyeing this money, and began to talk about it again.

"As our country's oil imports become larger and larger, and our dependence on foreign countries continues to increase, isn't the NDPC a little worried?" Feng Xiaochen asked.

Wang Zhenbin said: "How can we not be worried? Just the matter of agreeing to import 40 million tons of Middle East oil a year has been debated within the Development and Planning Commission for many months, and the core issue is the security of crude oil supply. At present, the security situation in the Gulf region is very bad, and some leaders have raised the question of whether our oil supply can be guaranteed if the war breaks out again in the Middle East and involves neighboring countries, and whether these newly built oil refineries will face a shortage of rice. ”

"It's entirely possible. Feng Xiaochen said firmly.

"Also, even if the supply of oil can be guaranteed, what if there is another oil crisis? In recent months, the price of crude oil in the international market has soared, and the price of a barrel of crude oil has risen by $10. If it goes up any further, we won't be able to afford so much crude oil at all. ”

"Hehe, according to my prediction, a $10 increase is just an appetizer, and a future oil price rise to $100 per barrel is not an accident. ”

"$100! Xiao Feng, don't scare me!" Wang Zhenbin was really frightened by Feng Xiaochen's words. In 1998, the international oil price was less than $20 per barrel, and China imported 40 million tons of crude oil a year, spending about $6 billion. In the future, when imports will grow to more than 100 million tons, if the price of a barrel of crude oil exceeds $100, will the cost not reach $70 billion? Will the country be able to come up with so much foreign exchange?

Feng Xiaochen smiled slightly and did not answer. Wang Zhenbin was silent for a moment, nodded, and said, "Although your words are a bit alarmist, it can't be said that it is completely impossible. At that time, the liquefaction of coal will be very necessary, and the price of coal-to-liquid will probably be lower than that of oil. ”

"Regardless of the price of coal-to-liquid, it is much better for us to have this weapon in our hands than to be unarmed. In the event of an oil embargo on us from abroad, or the use of oil to blackmail us, we will be able to deal with it calmly if we have the ability to liquefy coal. The character of those oil tyrants in the Middle East cannot be trusted, and we must be careful that they turn their faces and deny people. Feng Xiaochen said.

Wang Zhenbin said with a smile: "Xiao Feng, no wonder Yu Rui keeps saying that you are shrewd. You just shook hands with Bryce and borrowed $22 billion in low-interest loans from others, and as soon as you turned around, you began to say that people's character is not credible, and you must guard against others. ”

Feng Xiaochen said: "Lao Wang, this is not called no treacherous business, this is called taking precautions." I actually wanted to be friends with Bryce, but the other party had my handle, and I had nothing in my hands, which was destined not to be friends. To be friends, we must be equal in ability, otherwise we will have to kneel and wait for others to give us benefits. You just said that I have the ability to borrow $22 billion from Prince Bryss, but in fact this is not my ability, but China's economic development has reached such an extent that they can't help but bow to us. ”

Wang Zhenbin thought for a while and said, "You have a point. The matter of coal liquefaction is indeed on the agenda. However, I don't care about this matter, it needs to be decided by the leader. ”