This Is How I Became a Chaebol

075 : Strait of Malacca or Gulf of Tonkin

“Then, I think Blonox will invest $12 million in the PVC business with a production capacity of 15,000 tons per year.”

“good. Do you have a contract?”

“Hmm, should I sign first? 5 to 5 stake, 6 to 4 profit distribution, 85% operation rate for 305 working days, excess production belongs to Korean companies as a special contract… No problem. good.”

Deputy Minister Yum Won-cheol also did a good job of signing.

As a result, contracts were signed for all kinds of factories entering the Ulsan industrial complex, including PVC, polyethylene, ethanol, acetaldehyde, alkylbenzene, synthetic rubber, methanol, paper, cold-rolled steel plates, glass, and electric cables.

If you put it all together, it’s close to $200 million.

It would be said that the original plan to invest was blown up at once.

“I want Bechtel to take care of the 100MW power plant.”

“It is a large power plant. What are the conditions?”

“The design is done by Bechtel, the materials including the turbine are done by GE, and the construction and construction are done by Daesae Undong.”

“What is the construction capacity of the mainstream unemployment? Even if our superintendent would take care of the construction method and supervision, we would need a large crane and all kinds of heavy equipment.”

“You don’t have to worry. We have all the heavy equipment on our side, and there is no safety problem because the equipment was transferred from the US Army Corps of Engineers in Korea.”

I don’t have it yet, but I have 70 million dollars, so I just need to get the equipment right after I return home.

This kind of bluff is not even a lie to a merchant.

“Well, since there are so many investors, including DuPont, there is no way to make fun of them even if they build a power plant.”

That’s it.

All you have to do is urge DuPont or Blonox that a power plant is essential for Korean investment to succeed, and tell Bektel or GE to build with confidence because American companies have invested.

Besides, if the investors come forward, the government will not be able to blush because I signed a contract for the big project of building a power plant.

It is attracting foreign capital worth 200 million dollars, but if investors are reluctant to sign a contract without a power plant, and they have no choice but to conclude a construction contract, the game is over.

Even if it costs more, building a power plant with an American company is a hundred times better than attracting a Japanese company.

In its original history, Japanese companies led the construction of the Ulsan petrochemical complex.

Design, material introduction, construction, supervision, and even lower-level engineers were Japanese, so our Korean company was just a simple laborer without any skills.

So, far from accumulating technology, the loans brought in from the US could not be released in Korea, and it resulted in handing them over to Japan.

Things like that should never happen again.

“Since it is a large case, the special contract conditions must be met. Technology transfer is required for BOP (Balance of Plant, power plant auxiliary systems) such as boilers, turbine generators, and water treatment facilities.”

“Don’t worry. We are building a state-of-the-art combined cycle power plant, and we need to provide that level of technical education.”

Bechtel also gladly stepped forward.

Since Bechtel was being pushed back by Japan’s low-priced offensive in the global construction market, this project must have been seen as an opportunity.

Core technology related to turbines will never be transferred, so even basic power plant technologies such as auxiliary systems had to be transferred.

“We will dispatch personnel right away, even from tomorrow.”

“Yes? From tomorrow?”

“Sure, I’m already in the country.”

There are as many as 60 engineers and technicians excluding marine students.

You will need to put in about half of them.

“It’s good. Koreans seem to be quick at handling things.”

Not just fast, but very fast.

“Deputy Minister, would you please finalize the contract?”

“Yes, please leave it to me.”

Now, Deputy Minister Yeom was not too afraid of the contract.

Tens of millions of dollars were signed without hesitation.

Since the contract he had already signed without government permission reached 200 million dollars, hesitation disappeared.

If you get drenched in the rain, you don’t have to run.

“Then see you in Korea.”

We succeeded in overcoming the party at the end of the power plant. It seemed like ten cups of jack coke alone.

Isn’t this why Ulsan is getting bigger than Seoul? I was just thinking about it.

“How did you finish the work roughly?”

Van Flint approached me just in time.

“Yes, well done. Thank you for providing such a wonderful venue.”

I was truly grateful.

It was great that it attracted 200 million dollars in foreign capital, but it was also significant in that it set a precedent for private businessmen to collaborate between Korea and the United States.

In the original history, from the mid-1960s, economic subordination to Japan had gradually increased.

It was also Japan’s strategy against Korea.

In this history, Japan’s influence on the Korean economy will be very thin. No, let’s erase it completely.

“I’m glad you’re happy too. Then, shall we start the second round?”

Van Flint took me to the VIP room separately. There, a man was enjoying a cigar. It was the good man of Union Oil that Van Flint introduced to me first at the party today.

“Welcome, CS!”

Of course Nancy was sitting across from him.

Yeah, when did you show up?

“Long time no see. Lady.”

I lightly kissed the back of my hand.

Aren’t you the precious landlord who provided 100 million dollars?

It was natural to do our best to show an example.

The four of us settled down: Van Flint, Nancy, Goodman of Union Oil, and myself.

“Haha, it was a little hard for me to smoke a cigar by myself, but I had a comrade.”

“If possible, smoke Cuban cigars.”

“What, why do you have this? This is something that is hard to buy even if you have money.”

“I was invited to such a great party and I have to give the host something in return.”

Van Flint was delighted when I gave him the cigar I had given him as a gift.

It looks like it’s really luxurious.

“Now, since each person has their favorite things in their hands, such as cigars and jackcocks, shall we get to the main topic? Good man, tell me. How great was it that you called it here separately?”

Nancy hooked up and brought up the topic.

“We, Union Oil, have discovered an oil field in Indonesia. It is a large oil field with an estimated production of 100,000 barrels per day and a reserve of 500 million barrels.”

“Oh, congratulations.”

Nancy clapped her hands and liked it.

“It’s too big an oil field to sell easily.”

said Van Flint, leisurely smoking a cigar.

At this time, the big players in the political and business circles were all oil companies, military companies, and financial companies, so they knew each other’s businesses well.

“…Unfortunately, yes.”

Goodman replied with a weak laugh.

When oil is successfully mined, it cannot be prevented from bursting out. Because it comes out with strong pressure, it is not possible to open the lid and pull out a little bit every time you need it.

It has to be sold through pipelines or tankers, or stored in storage if not sold. However, since it cannot be stored indefinitely, oil prices fluctuate.

“Since it is a joint venture with Indonesia, we are responsible for the sale of crude oil. If we can’t sell it properly, the Indonesian government will never give us an exploration permit again.”

If Korea had succeeded in developing oil fields, they would have raised both hands and cheered, but isn’t Union Oil an American company?

It is not easy for US oil companies to sell oil to the domestic market.

Because the major oil companies, called the Seven Sisters, have a tight grip on the market.

In other words, seven companies, Exxon, Galf, Sokal, Socony, Texaco, Anglo-Persian Oil, and Royal Dutch Shell control 85% of the global oil market as well as the US domestic demand.

It is virtually a monopoly.

Seven companies build oil refineries in countries around the world and sell oil by signing long-term supply contracts with those countries.

Galf has already entered Korea.

Of course, even such giant oil companies will be rapidly shrunk by successive oil shocks, but that time is still far from coming.

“You mean you want to sell oil to Korea.”

“Yes that’s right.”

“You should know that Galpsa is already in.”

“There is always competition in a free market. I heard that you are building a petrochemical complex. We invest $76 million. I want to build a refinery with a capacity of 100,000 barrels.”

I can see why you need three people for this job.

Nancy puts Galfsa’s protests to rest, Van Flint blows her breath into the Korean government, and I’ll be a joint venture… That’s what I thought.

It’s so good, but it’s sewage to express it.

“If a competitor comes in, the Korean government wants a member of the Seven Sisters to come in. Isn’t that right, Mr. Goodman?”

“That’s why we need CS’s help. Factory land is also free, utilities are halved, and tax-free for 5 years.

Not bad, but need to scrape more.

What is 76 million dollars?

“It seems that it will be difficult to calm Galfsa’s breath. I have a deep relationship with Galpsa. We are also the exclusive supplier of naphtha…”

“We can exclusively supply naphtha. You cooperate with us, very evenly, 5-5.”

The collaboration card was also hooked up. Good?

“It’s a collaboration… not bad. If it is conditional on building an oil refinery in Incheon instead of Ulsan petrochemical complex and also building a 100MW power plant, I will bring in the government. I had to be forced to cooperate with the government, so even Galfsa couldn’t say anything to me.”

There should be one power plant in Incheon.

My Seongsu-dong factory is also in a power situation.

Of course, since I have a shipping company, I am actively developing Incheon Port.

“Are you saying we have to build a power plant? That would cost at least $100 million in total construction costs.”

“You have to throw that kind of bait to make it work. Korea’s electricity situation is so poor that limited power transmission is implemented. If we build a power plant, politicians have no choice but to welcome it with open arms.”

“Oh, is it the best bait? If we build a power plant in Incheon, we can supply electricity to Seoul, the capital city, right?”

Nancy laughed and clapped her hands.

quite a lot Do you know Incheon and Seoul?

“And, if possible, I would like to build an oil refinery tower with a capacity of 150,000 barrels.”

“How much more absurd must I be? Selling 100,000 barrels, building a 150,000 barrel factory.”

“I just want to decorate the distillation tower. Then, even if it is sold a little cheaply, it is because it is produced in a super-large factory that surpasses Galf, and it is not price dumping. Even Galpsa won’t be able to catch the pod.”

“Umm, even if the selling price is reduced by only 2% compared to Galfsa, it will make things easier. The people who produce it will be sold. By the way, CS! Is it okay for Galpsa’s allies to tell us about such a strategy?”

Van Flint bruised me with a meaningful laugh. I hope you know my intentions?

“Money has no nationality. Whether it’s Galfsa or Union Oil, I’m doing my best.”

I pretended to be a Wall Street entrepreneur.

Goodman, who pretended to raise his voice, said as the story progressed, ‘Is this worth a try?’ made a face.

“Then I just need to ask the Indonesian government to raise Union’s profit rate a little bit and accept Galpsa’s complaint.”

“You have to help transport crude oil. From the Silverstein family.”

At Nancy’s words, Goodman even mentioned crude oil transportation.

The Silverstein family is all-in on international trade and diplomacy. It is impossible not to have a stake in a leading shipping company.

It must have been thanks to Nancy’s influence that Van Flint held the welcome party here in Portland Harbor.

“Anyway, I’m not going to miss anything. Nancy from the Pentagon appeases Galfsa, Nancy from Silverstein helps transport, that’s it. Now, let me sign first.”

Nancy picked up the pen first.

“Wait a minute, there is a special contract. As with any contract so far, the excess production is the share of the general unemployment.”

“I see. Rather, the profit distribution for planned production is 6:4, right? Of course we are 6.”

Goodman laughed at me.

What to do with excess production in oil refineries?

Refining efficiency is said to be there.

Hey, I’m a 21st century engineer.

“Sure.”

“I’ll list it as a special contract.”

Nancy, like the Silverstein family, wrote down the special agreement and even signed it in that short time.

Van Flint, of course, was so perfect that even I couldn’t give a damn about it.

“I don’t know where Incheon in Korea is, but let’s drink champagne there.”

“See you in Korea, Goodman.”

“good luck.”

The three of us said goodbye and sent Goodman away.

“Anyway, you pull it off well. All 300 million dollars? It’s amazing that you’ve grown three times.”

“By the way, is it possible to overproduce at oil refineries?”

“There is nothing difficult. Indonesian crude oil is high-quality crude oil with good gasoline and kerosene quality due to its low sulfur content. Anybody at Seven Sisters would give you 150,000 barrels for 100,000 barrels if you traded it for poor quality Saudi crude.”

“her…”

“Oh, you’re exchanging for Saudi crude oil?”

Both were startled.

Well, it is something that any plant worker in the 21st century can think of.

In the 21st century, Korea’s oil refineries are the best in the world, so they buy Saudi crude oil in large quantities at the same price.

Of course, it is possible because I know catalysts and process technology.

“Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you already intend to entrust shipping from the Middle East to the Pacific Ocean via Asia?”

“… Oh…”

“… How did you know that?”

“Were the international experts on the Asian side sitting together because of just one oil company?”

Nancy couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

“Yes, I think we will need sea freight to cover Quy Nhon, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Guam, and the US mainland.”

“Is that really all? Nancy… No, considering that the Silverstein family was also there, it seems that there is work in the Middle East as well.”

“!!!!!”

“……”

Both faces hardened.

There is no way I, a 21st century human, would not know.

Isn’t the powder keg in the Middle East exploding day and night?

In 1966, Syria blocked oil pipelines to weaponize oil, and finally, in 1967, Israel launched a surprise attack on Arab countries and blocked the Suez Canal, causing oil prices to skyrocket.

Since this year is 1966, it is time for Israel to prepare for war.

Nancy, the head of international relations at the US Department of Defense and the highest-ranking Jewish official, could not be unaware of such a trend.

“I don’t care what happens in the Middle East. If you give me a few idle boats, I’ll go back and forth, no matter how dangerous the Arabian Gulf, Malacca Strait, or Tonkin. The Silverstein family cares about the Atlantic Ocean. Leave the other side of the world to me.”

“I really don’t know anything…”

“I did. CS will pass the exam with ease.”

Finally, the giant oil cartel took a step.