Reborn Industrial Tycoon

Chapter 628 Bragging about the World Championship Championship

Huanghai Petrochemical's natural gas transmission pipeline technology is considered to be at the top level in China, but compared with developed countries, it lags behind by several decades.

In fact, China is the first country in the world to use natural gas pipeline transportation. As early as the Qin and Han Dynasties in BC, our ancestors began to use bamboo pipes to transport natural gas.

In modern times, China's science and technology has lagged behind the world, so it was not until 1963 that China built its first modern natural gas transmission pipeline. The length of this pipeline is only more than 50 kilometers and the diameter is only more than 400 millimeters. Nowadays, the natural gas transmission in many communities

All pipes are thicker than this.

Modern natural gas transmission pipelines in Western countries developed much earlier.

Similar to China, before the 18th century, the West also used bamboo as gas pipelines. However, with the beginning of the industrial revolution, the West began to use cast iron pipes to transport natural gas, and at the end of the 19th century, steel pipes began to be used.

In terms of gas transmission power, the West initially relied entirely on natural gas wellhead pressure. At the end of the 19th century, the United States took the lead in adopting steam-driven presses. In the 1930s, internal combustion engines were used to drive pressurized pipelines.

After World War II, Europe also began to use natural gas on a large scale. At that time, it was mainly Eastern European countries that used natural gas. Natural gas pipelines built by the Soviet Union passed through Czechoslovakia and were transported to Austria, the Federal Republic of Germany, Yugoslavia and other countries.

As for Western Europe, natural gas was mainly obtained from the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. At that time, the natural gas consumption in Western Europe was not large, and it was completely dependent on the supply of the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. Unlike today, more than 40% of the natural gas in Europe comes from Russia.

By the end of the 1970s, Southern Europe also built a natural gas pipeline from North Africa to Southern Europe. At this point, the natural gas layout of the entire Europe was formed.

In comparison, China's natural gas industry started relatively late. When it first entered the 21st century, China's natural gas pipeline transportation technology lagged far behind that of Western developed countries.

Therefore, Li Weidong knew very well that if Huafu Gas really introduced advanced technology from Western countries, Huanghai Petrochemical would most likely not be able to compete.

Western countries don’t just give technology to China on demand, and they often use technology to choke China. Being able to obtain Western advanced natural gas pipeline technology is a great thing in itself.

This is probably something that only top companies like Huafu Group can achieve through some exchange of interests.

As Li Weidong said, Huafu Group has basically no bright spots except for its strong capital. However, capital is precisely the sharpest weapon of Huafu Group, allowing them to obtain advanced technology from the West.

"Having a lot of money is awesome!" Li Weidong sighed and asked, "Uncle, do you know which company's technology the Huafu Group uses?"

"Enron!" Uncle He continued; "You must have heard of Enron's name. It is the second largest energy company in the United States, ranked among the top 20 in the world's top 500, and also ranked among the top ten in the United States!

"

"Enron?" Li Weidong made a weird voice. After thinking for a few seconds, he then asked: "Enron relies on the natural gas business to make a living, right? Pipeline transportation technology is Enron's core technology. How could it be handed over so easily?

Our Chinese company? Huafu Group must have paid a lot of price!"

"I don't know how much the Huafu Group paid. However, judging from the bidding document given by the Huafu Group, what Enron provided was not their most advanced natural gas transmission technology, but technology from the late 1980s."

Uncle He paused for a moment, then continued: "Another point is that Enron Company does not directly hand over technology to Huafu Group, but provides corresponding technical support during the construction process.

It is equivalent to them sending engineers over to be responsible for planning, calculation and other technical work, while Huafu Gas is responsible for the construction. How much Huafu Gas can learn from the whole process depends on their luck.

But even so, it is a rare opportunity for our Chinese enterprises. There are not many opportunities to directly learn advanced foreign technologies. Even if we just look at what others do, we can have a lot of ideas about our technology.

improvement.”

"What I'm saying is that the United States has the most advanced natural gas pipeline technology in the world, and Enron is a leader in this field. Even the technology of the late 1980s, if you can learn it, is enough to meet our current domestic needs.

There is a need." Li Weidong said.

"Isn't that right? Enron's technology in the 1980s is not lagging behind in Europe. In China, it is the most advanced, far exceeding the level of Huanghai Petrochemical. That's why I said that this bidding project of Huanghai Petrochemical is basically

There’s no chance.”

Uncle He went on to explain: "Actually, it is not a secret at my level. Enron's technology is indeed much better than that in China. The expert group has reached a consensus, but it has not yet reached the day of making a decision, so everyone

I just knew it in my heart and didn’t say much.”

After ending the call with Uncle He, Li Weidong's face showed a hint of joy.

"Enron Company, the company that cooperated with Huafu Gas, turned out to be Enron Company. Originally, I was wondering what kind of conditions should be put forward to get New Oriental Electric. Now it seems that Huanghai Petrochemical will beg me to buy it.

New Oriental Motor!"

…

Whether it is natural gas extraction or natural gas pipeline transportation technology, the United States is undoubtedly the most advanced in the world.

While Europe was still fighting World War II, President Roosevelt in the United States had already laid natural gas pipelines to important cities in the United States.

By the 1970s, there were approximately 700,000 kilometers of natural gas pipelines in the world, and the United States accounted for 400,000 kilometers, more than half of the world. The natural gas pipelines of the Soviet Union and Europe were less than a quarter of those in the United States.

Among them, a large part of the natural gas transmission pipelines were built by Enron.

Enron was founded in 1930 as a gas distributor.

However, Enron's luck was relatively good. It happened to catch up with President Roosevelt's New Deal, and the United States began to invest in large-scale infrastructure construction. Enron began to engage in power plant construction and natural gas pipeline construction business, and quickly grew into the top energy company in the United States.

Enron's business scope is also very wide. In addition to its specialty natural gas business and electric power business, Enron is also engaged in petroleum, chemicals, communications, metals, wood, steel, wind energy and other businesses.

In addition, Enron's Internet technology business is also very developed. Enron was the first company in the world to implement an online online transaction system. At that time, all merchants who had business with Enron could complete transactions with Enron through the Internet, which is what is now known as

B2B.

Natural gas pipeline construction, as the company's starting point, is naturally the core of Enron's business. Enron's technology in natural gas pipelines is indeed the best in the world.

…

"Chairman Song, I accept the concession!"

In the conference room, a rather shrewd-looking man cupped his fist at Song Jinlong with a proud expression on his face.

This person is Lin Mancang, the general manager of Huafu Gas.

Just now, the expert group announced the results of the bidding. There is no doubt that Huafu Gas successfully won the bid.

That's why Lin Mancang had this victor's attitude on his face.

Song Jinlong walked out of the conference room with a livid face, his heart filled with unwillingness.

For the laying of natural gas transportation pipelines, Huanghai Petrochemical has the technology, experience, and more successful cases, while Huafu Gas is only a natural gas distributor, so Song Jinlong feels that this bid should be a sure win.

However, it was Huafu Gas that finally won the bid!

After learning the result, Song Jinlong's first reaction was that there was something fishy about this tender, and that Huafu Gas had done something secretly.

But after thinking about it carefully, Song Jinlong felt that it was impossible.

For such an important project as the West-East Gas Transmission, those responsible for reviewing the project are all well-known domestic experts, many of whom are academicians of the Academy of Engineering.

These famous top scholars are not the V-shaped experts on the Internet who tell lies with their eyes open. Top scholars all cherish their own feathers. It is basically impossible to bribe so many experts at once.

What's more, this is a national strategic project, and there are so many pairs of eyes watching behind it. If anyone dares to cheat and deceive others, they may lose their heads.

So the only explanation is that the bidding plan proposed by Huafu Gas is better than Huanghai Petrochemical!

"Huafu Gas has never had experience in building long-distance natural gas transmission pipelines. How could their plan be better than ours!"

Song Jinlong took a deep breath, and then ordered: "Go and find out immediately what the plan proposed by Huafu Gas is and why it can beat us!"

The men nodded and immediately tried to find out the information.

At this moment, Song Jinlong's secretary came over, leaned next to Song Jinlong, and said: "Chairman, Chairman Li Weidong of Puppy Electric has called you."

"Li Weidong? I remembered it. He must be doing it for New Oriental Motor." Song Jinlong waved his hand with an irritated look on his face: "Push it for me and let him come back to me after some time."

Now Song Jinlong had just lost a big project and had no intention of talking to Li Weidong about the motor factory.

However, the secretary hesitated for a moment and then said: "Chairman Li Weidong said that he already knew that we lost to Huafu Gas. He said that there is a way to help us make a comeback. If you are interested, you can have an interview."

"The bidding results have just been announced, and Li Weidong already knows it! Is there any way he can help us turn the tables? What kind of medicine is Li Weidong selling in his gourd?" Song Jinlong suddenly stopped in his tracks.

After pondering for a moment, Song Jinlong said, "Immediately make an appointment for me to meet with Chairman Li. No, let's make an appointment for a dinner. Some things are better discussed at a dinner. Let's do it right away. The sooner the better!"

…

On the dining table, a Boston lobster is placed in the middle, looking very majestic.

In China at that time, Boston lobster was still a rare thing. At that time, China rarely imported this kind of thing. It is said that rare things are more valuable, so Boston lobster became the top food at banquets.

Of course, Boston lobsters were really expensive at that time. Due to import tariffs on seafood, a pound of Boston lobsters in China cost about three to four hundred yuan, which was definitely beyond the reach of ordinary families.

After it is cooked in a five-star hotel, the price will increase several times. Therefore, a banquet with a whole lobster will inevitably cost tens of thousands of yuan.

Tens of thousands of yuan in 2001 was enough for an ordinary family to live for a long time.

Song Jinlong poured wine for Li Weidong with a smile on his face. Li Weidong was not polite, picked up the wine glass and said: "Brother Song, let me toast you!"

"Brother Li, I should be the one toasting you!" Song Jinlong quickly picked up the wine glass.

At the dinner party, the two of them called each other "Brother Song" and "Brother Li". After a few glasses of wine, they were as close as half-brothers with different surnames and no sworn ties.

It is not unreasonable for Chinese people to like to discuss business at wine parties. After a few glasses of wine, those who were not familiar with each other become familiar with each other, and those who were originally embarrassed to say can be said out loud. It is easier for both parties to discuss terms openly and honestly. , this negotiation is also easier.

Just listen to Song Jinlong ask: "Brother Li, our Huanghai Petrochemical lost to Huafu Gas this time. I heard that you have a way to help us make a comeback?"

Li Weidong nodded: "Yes, I do have a way to get you back the bid."

"How confident are you?" Song Jinlong asked next.

"How could I dare to come to you if I am not completely sure?" Li Weidong replied.

"What a loud tone!" Song Jinlong thought to himself, but he just smiled and refused.

Li Weidong then said: "Brother Song, if I can help you get this project back, then your Huanghai Petrochemical Company will have to sell me the New Oriental Motor Factory!"

Li Weidong did not hesitate and explained his conditions directly.

"This project is very important to us. If you can really help us get the project back, New Oriental Motor Factory will give it to you!" Song Jinlong was happy and did not bargain.

Li Weidong smiled and shook his head: "I don't dare to ask for it if you give it to me. After all, you are a state-owned enterprise. If I take the New Oriental Motor Factory for nothing, wouldn't it be embezzlement of state-owned assets! I'd better buy it at the market price. I can't Let state-owned assets suffer losses."

Song Jinlong said, "Brother Li, I'm not kidding you. Do you really have a way to help us snatch this project away from Huafu Gas?"

"Brother Song, we have known each other for ten years, right? Is there anything I, Li Weidong, can't do that I can't tell you?" Li Weidong asked rhetorically.

"That's true. If we leave it to you, Brother Li, to do something we can't do, we can really succeed immediately." Song Jinlong thought of Li Weidong's previous achievements and nodded with deep approval.

But Song Jinlong immediately changed his voice and said: "But this time, our competitor is Huafu Gas. After all, they are a subsidiary of Huafu Group.

Huafu Group has a big business and strong strength. It is one of the top large companies in the country, and its scale is several times larger than ours!

If it’s just the Huafu Group, that’s it. For this project, the Huafu Group has a top-notch support behind it, so that’s the most difficult thing to deal with!”

"Are you talking about the American company Enron?" Li Weidong asked.

"You really know it!" Song Jinlong didn't look surprised.

Before that, Song Jinlong had already found out that the reason why Huafu Gas won the bid this time was because it reached cooperation with Enron Company. Enron Company provided some technologies and was willing to send engineers to help Huafu Gas.

Faced with Enron's technology, Song Jinlong knew that Huanghai Petrochemical had lost the battle unjustly!

No domestic company, not even Japanese and European companies, would be able to compete with Enron.

Song Jinlong immediately asked, "Enron's natural gas pipeline technology is unique in the world. Is there any way you can win against them?"

"Technically speaking, if I give you twenty... ten years, it won't be as good as Enron's."

Li Weidong originally wanted to say "it can't be compared in twenty years", but after careful consideration, Chinese companies twenty years later have already built natural gas pipelines to Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa, even for South American natural gas in the mid-to-high-end market.

Pipelines, there are also projects by Chinese companies.

Compared with infrastructure projects, the United States in 20 years will really not be able to match China's infrastructure madman, so Li Weidong changed "twenty years" to "ten years."

Song Jinlong didn't pay attention to Li Weidong's change of words. Even if Li Weidong said that it couldn't be compared in twenty years, Song Jinlong didn't feel angry. After all, Huanghai Petrochemical's technology was more than twenty years behind Enron's. Even twenty years could be considered.

Lifting up the Yellow Sea turned it into stone.

Just listen to Li Weidong continue to say; "Since we are unable to compete with others in a short period of time in terms of technology, we can only start from other aspects."

"In terms of cost, we have no advantage. Although Huafu Gas uses Enron's technology, when laying pipelines, we still use our domestic construction team, and their costs are not very high." Song Jinlong said.

"We don't compare costs." Li Weidong shook his head and continued: "Since Huafu Gas needs the support of Enron Company, then find a way so that Enron Company cannot provide technical support. This project will naturally return to your Yellow Sea

It’s petrified inside the hand.”

"Is there any way to prevent Enron from providing technical support?" An idea flashed in Song Jinlong's mind, and he asked: "Brother Li, is there any way you can influence Enron's decision-making?"

"How can I have that ability? If I could influence Enron's decision-making, I would have gone to the Middle East to mine natural gas and make money!" Li Weidong replied with a smile.

"Besides, is there any other way to influence Enron?" Song Jinlong asked.

"Just shut down Enron!" Li Weidong said with a relaxed expression, while holding a large piece of lobster meat in his mouth and chewing it.

The heat is stronger and the taste is a bit woody.

"Should Enron be shut down?" Song Jinlong looked like he was listening to a bad joke. He didn't think the joke was funny at all.

Li Weidong said seriously: "As long as Enron collapses, they will have no way to provide technical support to Huafu Gas. At that time, Huafu Gas will have to withdraw, and this project will belong to Huanghai Petrochemical!"

Looking at Li Weidong's serious expression, Song Jinlong felt a ray of anger in his heart. He felt that Li Weidong was playing tricks on him!

That's Enron! The second largest energy company in the United States, ranked among the top ten companies in the United States, and among the top 20 Fortune 500 companies in the world!

Put Enron into bankruptcy? You must be the bragging rights champion of the world championship!

Li Weidong, why don’t you say you are the President of the United States?

Even the President of the United States is unable to bring down Enron!

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