Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

In this way, China can build some fertilizer plants on its own. "What exactly is going on?"

"Jack Perry said that some companies in the UK are very interested in this. And they are not interested in supplying us with parts,

They are interested in the sale of complete equipment. They are willing to sell us a complete set of equipment with a capacity of 10 tons of synthetic ammonia and 16 tons of urea.

We could contact the Netherlands, as some Dutch businesspeople are also interested in this deal. They have the technology and could provide us with a complete set of equipment for a 16-ton urea plant. If we're truly interested in importing this machinery and equipment, Jack Perry is willing to connect us."

"16 tons of urea?"

"Correct."

Wei Hongjun couldn't help but stand up because the news came too suddenly.

The current national fertilizer production is less than 40 tons. Several of these fertilizer plants were built during the Republic of China period, and three were built with the assistance of the Soviet Union in 48, when it signed a contract with China to produce 5 tons of synthetic ammonia and 7.5 tons of

Urea fertilizer plants. All these together, the current production of fertilizer is only about 31 million tons. Compared to a large country like China, less than 40 tons

Fertilizer production was pitifully low. Even if all the fertilizer plant projects funded by the Soviet Union and East Germany, as per the agreement signed by Khrushchev with China in 1953, had been completed, the country's fertilizer production would not have exceeded 100 million tons.

But now there is an opportunity to directly establish a fertilizer plant with an output of 16 tons of urea.

16 tons of urea. This is a truly large-scale fertilizer plant.

If this could be introduced, it would greatly increase China's fertilizer production and train a large number of technicians. Historically, there was indeed a lot of trade between China and Britain.

Especially after Britain announced the relaxation of trade restrictions on China in the late 1950s, Dai purchased a large amount of machinery and equipment from Britain in the mid-1960s, including machinery and equipment for the oil and gas industry, as well as machinery and equipment needed for the chemical fiber and fertilizer industries.

That was all happening between 62 and 66.

China's fertilizer production reached 1966 million tons in 200, a feat made possible by the importation of numerous fertilizer plants from Western countries during the s. China not only had complete fertilizer plant equipment, but also imported a significant amount of key equipment and built numerous fertilizer plants in-house.

But it's now clear that after China's resounding victory in the Korean War, relations between China, Britain, and France improved much faster than in history. In other words, Britain's regard for China was many times higher than in history. Consequently, at the Geneva Conference, relations between China, Britain, and France advanced by leaps and bounds.

British businessmen began to pay attention to China and were willing to cooperate with China.

For many British businessmen and companies, selling complete sets of equipment to China is a very profitable business. China is such a large country with such a large population, so how much fertilizer does it need? How many fertilizer plants would it need?

The fertilizer machinery and equipment required for a 16-ton urea plant cost millions of pounds. British businessmen believe China would need dozens, even hundreds, of these factories. If all of them were taken over by the British, how much money would Britain earn?

Furthermore, once such a factory is established, subsequent management, technical issues, and parts sales cannot be handled outside the UK. This is because many British businessmen believe that China, a backward agricultural country, is incapable of managing such a large-scale fertilizer plant. If machinery and equipment break down and require replacement parts, they all need to be brought to the UK. How much money can be made from this round trip?

And the fertilizer plant is just one of them.

China needs a huge variety of machinery and equipment.

So when British businessmen heard that China was interested in the fertilizer plant, they didn't care what the Americans thought.

This has also been the case throughout history.

Although the UK publicly stated it would relax trade restrictions with China, the US maintained pressure on the UK, preventing it from becoming too close to China. However, the UK continued to engage in extensive cooperation with China in the fertilizer, chemical fiber, and even oil industries. In addition, the UK also collaborated with China on ship engines and aircraft engines. In the 1960s and 1970s, China spent over a billion dollars purchasing machinery and equipment from the UK, or through the UK from other Western countries.

We can see the attitude of the UK.

The reason why British businessmen are not rushing in is that they want to test China's ability to import complete sets of equipment and then see the effect of cooperation.

"Jack Perry says he's really sure?"

"Yes. Jack Perry said that as long as my country is willing to purchase, he can arrange it. And according to the contract, we can pay a deposit first, then pay another part after the complete set of equipment arrives in China, and finally wait for their technicians to help build the fertilizer plant. After the factory officially begins production, we can pay the balance."

"Don't we need to pay it all at once?"

"Yes."

"How much does a complete set of equipment for a 16-ton urea fertilizer plant cost?"

"According to Jack Perry, it's around $700 million. But I think the price is negotiable. We've researched international deals on this subject, and a complete set of equipment for a 16-ton urea fertilizer plant typically sells for between $600 million and $650 million."

If we order several complete sets of equipment, the price should be lowerable."

Wei Hongjun began to calculate.

If it's $650 million, that's over 1500 million RMB in RMB. Of course, the dollar is valuable now, so the actual price is definitely higher. And $650 million is just for the complete equipment.

The British company will also need to send personnel to guide the installation and even the final production. This series of expenses is estimated to cost more than 800 million US dollars.

It’s expensive, and it is indeed very expensive.

毕竞这可是800万美元,只是为了建造一个16万吨尿素的化肥厂。以中国的体量,这种化肥工厂需要一百多个,那就需要8亿美元以上,也就是20多1亿人民币。

How can it not be expensive?

But for China, this is a good opportunity.

Since British businessmen are willing to sell complete sets of equipment for fertilizer plants to China, there won't be much of an obstacle in the chemical fiber sector. In fact, chemical fibers are less sensitive than fertilizer plants.

To solve China's food and clothing problems, fertilizer plants and chemical fiber plants must be developed.

"If a deposit is required, how much is required for a 16-ton urea fertilizer plant?"

“Between 10% and 20%.”

“That’s about $60 to $120 million.”

The delivery of such a complete set of equipment, as well as the subsequent construction of the factory and normal production, will take at least three years.

This kind of phased payment will reduce the payment pressure on China's side.

There's no point in making small moves.

We should spend over $100 million at once to import complete sets of equipment for fertilizer plants and chemical fiber production, and quickly establish the necessary fertilizer and chemical fiber industries. Of course, this good opportunity isn't limited to fertilizer and chemical fiber production; other areas can also be imported.

But the decision to import machinery and equipment on this scale is not something that Wei Hongjun can decide alone.

"Where is Jack Perry now?" "In Guangzhou."

"Notify him in ten days and give him a reply after ten days." "Okay."

944 confirmed

This matter is too important.

So Wei Hongjun immediately called Deng Zhihui, Li Xuefeng, director of the Fourth Office, Zeng Shan, director of the Fifth Office, Lin Dafeng, deputy director of the Fourth Office and Minister of the Ministry of Electric Power Industry, Jia Tuofu and Song Shaowen, deputy directors of the Fifth Office, and Li Shaocheng, Lai Ruoyu and Zhao Dezun, deputy ministers of the Ministry of Rural Work, to a meeting.

The issue of food and clothing mainly involved rural work and the textile industry, which was exactly what Wei Hongjun was in charge of.

After much discussion, we developed a plan to import equipment from the fertilizer and chemical fiber plants. Furthermore, the complete ammonia synthesis equipment that the UK was to provide was a natural gas-fired ammonia synthesis equipment set.

Therefore, Wei Hongjun also has to deal with the issue of natural gas production.

Of course, the plans we have made are still preliminary plans, and these plans need to be adjusted according to actual conditions.

After the meeting, Wei Hongjun and Deng Zhihui wasted no time and went to Chen Yun with the plan. Chen Yun was now the de facto person in charge of the State Council's daily operations. Such a large-scale import of machinery and equipment required the cooperation of all State Council departments.

After reading the report, Chen Yun understood the importance of this matter and immediately convened a State Council meeting. In addition to the Vice Premier, Secretary-General, and other standing committee members of the State Council, the meeting was also attended by the directors of the various State Council offices and the ministers of the various ministries involved in the matter.

"Leaders, according to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture in recent years, one kilogram of urea can increase grain yields by approximately three to five kilograms. Combined with the improved varieties we are currently promoting, rice and wheat yields per mu can both increase by approximately 200 kilograms. If sufficient fertilizers are available, it is entirely possible to increase rice and wheat production by 1000 billion kilograms from current levels."

Li Shaocheng introduced the importance of fertilizers to everyone, and he was very direct in his explanation.

"A fertilizer plant capable of producing 16 tons of urea would cost over 2000 million RMB to import the complete equipment and pay British technicians. If this money were used to purchase grain, it would only yield around 16 million jin. However, once a fertilizer plant is built and produces 10 tons of urea, annual production can increase by at least 15 billion jin, and potentially even by over 100 billion jin. Therefore, once the fertilizer plant is established, our annual grain production will be guaranteed. The importance of building fertilizer plants and increasing fertilizer production to my country's agriculture cannot be overstated. I believe that given this great opportunity, we should introduce at least five fertilizer plants and increase urea production by million tons."

Traditional agriculture has its limits.

There will always be a shortage of food to feed so many people, so developing fertilizer plants is a must.

Now that China had Soviet support, and the West had opened up a new window of opportunity, it presented an opportunity for Chinese agriculture. If China could seize this opportunity, its fertilizer production could exceed 1960 million tons by 200.

Moreover, the country has begun to research the machinery and equipment needed for fertilizer plants.

Once China masters the technology for these equipment, it will be able to manufacture its own fertilizer plants. By simply importing a batch of key equipment that cannot be produced domestically, it will be able to establish domestic fertilizer plants. This will allow China's fertilizer production to increase rapidly.

One million tons of chemical fertilizer can increase the yield of grain by almost 100 billion jin.

More importantly, chemical fertilizers can be used in conjunction with improved varieties, allowing them to maximize their potential and increase grain production.

"Comrade Li Shaocheng is right. Besides the fertilizer plant, we can use this opportunity to import chemical fiber machinery and equipment. Although the Soviet-aided artificial fiber plant has begun construction, with so many people in my country, this amount of artificial fiber is simply not enough. If we can import a batch of oil and natural gas synthetic fibers from Europe, it will greatly increase our fiber production."

Zeng is good at speaking.

It should be said that many departments of the State Council were very happy to hear that Britain was willing to sell some complete sets of machinery and equipment to China.

Because this is an opportunity.

Can greatly enhance opportunities for domestic industry.

Chen Yun said to Deng Xixian, "Comrade Deng Xixian, if we finally decide to introduce these factories, will it disrupt the First Five-Year Plan? After these complete sets of machinery and equipment are introduced into the country, will the required steel, cement, and glass be able to meet construction needs?"

China is a planned economy.

In particular, those important pillar industries are under the control of the state.

Because the country is currently experiencing a typical shortage of supplies, including the necessary raw materials. Therefore, the state must control these pillar industries and allocate the products of these industries. If you want to build a new factory, the required steel, cement, and other materials must be allocated by the state. The First Five-Year Plan is already in its third year, and next year will be its fourth.

There are detailed plans.

If the production of steel, cement and glass is insufficient and cannot be allocated, many jobs will be affected.

Just look at the current situation in Bao'an County.

Because the national production of steel, cement, and glass was insufficient to supply them, many of their factories were built with bricks, which greatly stimulated the development of the local brick and tile industry.

Deng Xixian knew what the State Council was going to discuss this time before he came.

So after receiving the report, he took the planning committee members to

He did the math. So he said directly, "Based on my country's current steel, cement, and glass production, the overall cost of building these factories shouldn't be a big problem. However, if these complete sets of equipment start arriving in China next year and these factories begin construction, some plans for next year will need to be adjusted."

China's steel, cement and glass production has grown faster than planned during the First Five-Year Plan.

One of the main reasons is that when the First Five-Year Plan was formulated, North Korea

The war hadn't ended yet. So, at the time, China was only fighting for its own interests. Because the First Five-Year Plan was formulated based on economic data from 1950 and 1951, it was generally conservative.

But who could have imagined that the Korean War would end just after the First Five-Year Plan was formulated and passed at the Eighth National Congress.

In exchange for prisoners, the United States gave China numerous sets of machinery and equipment. However, they were reluctant to give away some sensitive equipment, so they dismantled numerous Japanese cement, glass, and bicycle factories and directly gave China used sets of equipment. The First Five-Year Plan originally targeted cement production of 1956 million tons and flat glass production of 700 million tons by 510.

But the United States gave China a complete set of second-hand equipment.

These factories are now gradually opening. Although production has only just begun, the Planning Commission, based on ministerial data, estimates that China's cement production could reach 1955 million tons and flat glass production could reach 740 million tons in 490. This would essentially complete the First Five-Year Plan a year ahead of schedule.

Therefore, adding a few factories wouldn't put too much pressure on us. "Comrade Mao Zemin, what's the situation at the Ministry of Finance?"

"not good."

Mao Zemin shook his head directly.

Without the slightest hesitation, he continued, "Comrades, although our country's finances have improved slightly this year, it's only slightly. Furthermore, the central government has just launched Project 723, which requires a significant amount of funding, so the treasury simply doesn't have that much money right now. If we really were to follow your plan and import so many complete sets of equipment and build so many factories, the subsequent construction would require no less than 30 billion RMB. In short, the central government absolutely cannot come up with that much money."