Selling oil across Libya

Chapter 138 Eating Alone

The Libyan steel plant during the Colonel's era was designed to have an annual capacity of 330 million tons, but its actual peak annual output was only 180 million tons, achieving less than 55% of its target.

The renovated Misrata steel plant not only provided strong support for domestic construction in Libya, but was also successfully exported to Guinea for use in the construction of the Simandou railway.

Qin Rui only now realized that Dongya Steel Plant had begun exploring automation in the steel industry as early as the 50s.

By the 1980s, East Asian steel companies, represented by Baosteel, had fully implemented the EIC integrated system, achieving automation of processes such as ironmaking and steel rolling.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, East Asian steel companies have begun to integrate technologies such as artificial intelligence and industrial internet, entering a new stage of intelligent manufacturing characterized by "data-driven" and "AI integration".

It was after the renovation of the Misrata steel plant was completed that Guan Ping reminded Qin Rui that East Asia's automation technology was far more advanced than what was publicly known.

Although Guan Ping looks like a Chinese person, he is actually a system user that Qin Rui redeemed from the system.

Qin Rui understands East Asian customs all too well.

Based on the requirement of "equipping one generation, developing one generation, pre-researching one generation, and exploring one generation", Qin Rui was also unsure of the extent to which automation technology in East Asia had developed.

Some things shouldn't be investigated too deeply.

Although the J-20 made its maiden flight in 2011, its actual research and development work began in the 90s.

Based on the above standards, the development of rotary detonation ramjet engines should have already begun.

It's possible that the sixth-generation fighter jet is already lying dormant in some warehouse, waiting for the right moment to be announced to the public.

Guan Ping expressed his hope to increase cooperation with East Asia.

Qin Rui also wanted to do this, but East Asia disagreed.

Gaining the complete trust of East Asia is as difficult as landing on the moon.

Libya's current strength is not enough to sway this Eastern queen of East Asia.

Drawing on the experience of the Misrata steel plant, Qin Rui hopes that the newly built electrolytic aluminum plant will also receive technical support from Chinalco.

The conditions set by Chalco put Guan Ping in a difficult position.

Chinalco has some unproven technologies that, while promising, carry extremely high risks. Failure to prove them could cause serious economic losses to Libyan mining companies, potentially even resulting in total financial ruin.

Haishan prefers to use mature technologies, avoid unnecessary risks, and ensure the smooth implementation of investments.

Yuri was even more radical, hoping to apply automation technology extensively.

Ideally, like the Xishan factory, the electrolytic aluminum factory should be turned into a dark factory.

As large-scale projects are launched one after another, the problem of manpower shortage in Libya is gradually emerging.

Haishan is inclined to increase efforts to attract talent from East Asia.

Yuri, on the other hand, hopes to tap into Libya's own strengths as much as possible.

If Libya wants to achieve anything in industry, it has no other choice but to steadfastly pursue automation and artificial intelligence.

Qin Rui made the decision: Use it!

The total investment in the Misrata aluminum electrolysis plant is 20 billion dinars, equivalent to approximately $4 million.

There are only four Falcon drones in total.

We can afford to lose that amount of money.

Unlike the wealthy and powerful Qin Rui, after the Assyrian camp expanded its attack range, Iraq's oil exports were severely affected, and Basra was in a state of panic and chaos.

Payne urgently met with Yuri, hoping that Yuri would send Libyan troops from Kuwait to Basra to maintain order in Basra.

Mobil is a major shareholder of Iraq's National Oil Company.

"Payne, I thought we were friends. You've disappointed me greatly!"

Yuri was very unhappy with Mobil's monopolistic practices.

"Yuri, if you're interested, we can jointly monopolize Iraq's oil."

Payne hopes to extend the cooperation model between ExxonMobil and Libya's National Oil Corporation to Iraq.

"Oh!"

Yuri remained noncommittal.

"What exactly is your relationship with the Assyrian camp?"

Payne was skeptical of the report submitted by Schmitz and Black.

You've disappointed me again!

Yuri's smile vanished completely, replaced by an icy coldness.

"God, where did these people come from?"

Payne did not dwell on Yuri's attitude.

"Weren't the Assyrian camps supported by the US government?"

Yuri kicked the ball back.

"How the hell is this possible!"

Payne screamed out of control.

"Oh!"

Yuri sneered.

ISIL was originally al-Qaeda's branch in Iraq.

The current Iraqi government is also supported by the United States.

Yuri's attitude clearly shows that the United States is harboring a treacherous enemy in Iraq.

"I admit that ISIL did receive support from Washington for a period of time;"

But since the US withdrawal from Iraq, ISIL has completely spiraled out of control; otherwise, they should be in Persia, not fighting a civil war in Iraq.

Payne admitted that ISIL was a failed experiment.

"In any case, this was caused by Washington, and it should be resolved by Washington."

Yuri's grievances have a clear cause and a clear debtor.

"The US military is unlikely to return to Iraq."

Payne sighed deeply.

"Even if the Iraqi National Oil Company suffers severe losses, will US troops not return to Iraq?"

Yuri wanted to get information out of Payne.

"Not now, at least not!"

Payne did not rule out any possibility of a definitive answer.

Shareholders of ExxonMobil and the Iraqi National Oil Company are now actively lobbying Washington to bring US troops back to Iraq and end the Iraqi civil war.

The Obama administration and the U.S. Congress are discussing the necessity of bringing U.S. troops back to Iraq.

After the US military withdrew from Iraq, Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize that year.

If the US military returns, it would mean that Obama's previous withdrawal was a mistake, which would negatively impact Obama's image and reputation.

"I'm sorry, but Libyan troops will not enter Iraq unless Libya obtains permission from the United Nations."

Yuri was adamant that he would never do anything that was not legitimate or justified.

Payne had not yet convinced Yuri when the Sirgun oil field, with reserves exceeding 200 billion barrels, ranking sixth globally and being Iraq's largest, was attacked by ISIL militants and caught fire.

This time it really was ISIL who did it.

To ensure safe production at the oil field, the Iraqi National Oil Company pays ISIL a monthly fee in addition to taxes.

As Iraqi National Oil Corporation's profits dwindled, it threatened ISIL that if ISIL could not guarantee the security of its oil fields, Iraqi National Oil Corporation would reduce or even stop paying "protection fees."

Threats from the Iraqi National Oil Company have provoked strong anger from ISIL.

Regardless of whether the Iraqi National Oil Company's profits decrease, ISIL will not reduce the amount owed.

In retaliation against the Iraqi National Oil Company, ISIL attacked the Sirgun oil field as a form of punishment.

Qin Rui was also surprised that ISIL would actually dare to attack the oil field.

However, this is also reasonable.

After all, ISIL no longer obeys even Washington's orders, let alone the Iraqi National Oil Company.