In the late 1990s, China should not be doubted that crude oil imports will increase, but even the most imaginative people could not foresee that in less than 20 years, China's crude oil imports will reach a huge scale of 400 million tons per year.At that time, the concept of private cars was just beginning to emerge, and by the end of 2017, the number of private cars owned by Chinese residents had reached 170 million, almost every two households owned a private car, accompanied by an increase in oil consumption.

Feng Xiaochen dared to promise Prince Brees's annual crude oil imports of 30 million tons, precisely because of such a prophetic vision.Experts at the research center of the Commission do not have such a gold finger, 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 great thing to give 30% of that share to Saudi Arabia.

"However, Lao Yi, I still admire you, with the three-inch tongue, I talked about 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 of many of their negotiating delegations."Our chief all said that a Feng Xiaochen is worth a division of our Planning Commission."

Wang Zhenbin finished his false whining and began to praise Feng Xiaochen.

Feng Xiaochen smiled, “Old Wang, are you not killing me?”There is no conspiracy, is there?”

Wang Zhenbin laughed and said, “What kind of conspiracy can I say that there is a conspiracy, that is also the conspiracy of our big director.”No, it should be a sign.Our senior director said that with the $22 billion, the money we originally intended to use for new refineries could be saved for other purposes.With this $22 billion, the construction of one low-sulphur refinery and three high-sulphur refineries should be more than enough?”

Feng Xiaochen nodded and said, "Yes, when I made a quotation to Brise, I put some ambush."In fact, it can not be said to be an ambush, because the construction of a 10 million tons of oil refineries abroad, it does take more than 5 billion US dollars, but we now have the core technology of the refinery, most of the equipment can be manufactured by themselves, the construction cost can be reduced by more than one-third, with the 22 billion US dollars to build four refineries with an annual output of more than 15 million tons, the funds are sufficient.

“That would be great!”Wang Zhenbin said, "In this way, we can save nearly 60 billion yuan of funds..."

“Don’t be busy!”Feng Xiaochen made a gesture, interrupted Wang Zhenbin's words, and continued: "What you just said is 60 billion yuan, but you can't move it all away, at least leave 20 billion to me, I am useful."

“Are you useful?”Wang Zhenbin stared at Feng Xiaochen, "Old man, this joke can be big, this is the funds of the Planning Commission, you leave us 20 billion in one mouth, and you say that you are useful, do you dare to say this to our big director?" 」

"There's nothing to dare."Feng Xiaochen shrugged, "Faithful, I do not need to go to your director to say that the Middle East of the 22 billion U.S. dollars I talked about, and foreign negotiations, people have said that this money is used to build three high-sulfur crude oil refineries, even if you want to change from three to four, the fourth should also be suitable for refining high-sulfur crude oil, can not be used to build your planned low-sulfur refinery."In this regard, the NDRC and Brees signed a letter of intent for cooperation also have clear provisions, do you intend to default?”

Wang Zhenbin put away his smile just now and said seriously: "Xiao Feng, you are not joking with me?"We didn't say that we signed the contract with the foreign side according to 22 billion, and on the surface, these loans will all be used for these three high-sulfur refineries, in fact, you can use this money to build four refineries.The funds are allocated to your equipment industry, how to use it, where can the Middle East manage it?

Feng Xiaochen said: "People can't handle it, but we have to pay attention to things, right?"We built four refineries, and the commission did not invest a penny, is that correct?People also have information channels, then said that we in the name of building high-sulfur refineries to their loans, but the funds have been diverted to other aspects, this is not affecting our international credibility?"

“You don’t have to do it for $20 billion, do you?”Let's put a little bit symbolically into it."Wang Zhenbin said.

Feng Xiaochen said, “This is what I want to talk to you about today.I hope that the Development Committee can set up a project, invest 20 billion yuan, and build a coal liquefaction project with an annual output of 4 million tons.In the past, we have submitted plans in this regard, but due to insufficient state funding, the NDRC has been slow to approve the project.Now, with low-interest loans in the Middle East, we hope that the Commission will be able to pass this project.”

“Coal liquefied?You're still playing with that idea."Wang Zhenbin was shocked.

Coal liquefaction, also known as coal-to-oil, is through a series of chemical processes, the use of coal to produce gasoline, diesel and synthetic wax, ethylene, propylene and other petrochemical products, in order to achieve the effect of replacing oil with coal.The idea of coal liquefaction has been proposed since the beginning of the last century.As a country with a shortage of oil and coal, South Africa has been conducting coal liquefaction research since 1955 and achieved industrial production.During the oil crisis in the 1970s, Western countries generally carried out research on coal liquefaction and achieved fruitful results.However, as oil prices fall again, the urgency of coal liquefaction has also declined, although there are many research results, but the actual application projects are few.

China has begun the research work of coal liquefaction in the early 1980s, and has built an experimental production line with an annual output of 1,000 tons.However, because of technical problems, the cost of coal-to-oil is high, compared with the low oil price, coal-to-oil is not competitive at all, so this technology can only stay in the experimental stage, can not be applied on a large scale.

China's abundant coal reserves and limited oil reserves, coal liquefaction can reduce the dependence on imported oil, for the country's energy security is very important, this point, the high-level is also very clear.However, economic constraints have determined that China cannot prioritize coal liquefaction, and it is impossible for the country to abandon cheap oil for all sectors of the national economy to choose expensive coal-to-oil for the sake of energy security.The equipment company reported to the previous National Planning Commission that it was launched on a large-scale coal liquefaction demonstration project, which was repeatedly rejected by the Planning Commission, in the end because of two words: no money!

This time, Feng Xiaochen cheated 22 billion US dollars from the Middle East oil bully, and solved the urgent needs of the Planning Commission.The commission had just breathed a sigh of relief and was wondering where to spend the money saved, who knew that Feng Xiaochen actually stared at the money and began to re-reite the old words.

"Our country's oil imports are getting bigger and bigger, and our dependence on foreign countries is increasing, is there no concern for the Development and Planning Commission?"Feng Xiaochen asked.

Wang Zhenbin said, “How can you not worry?Just the promise to import 40 million tons of Middle East oil every year, the NDRC has been debated for several months, the core issue is the issue of crude oil supply security.Now that the security situation in the Gulf region is very bad, some leaders have proposed that in the event of a resumption of war in the Middle East and involve neighboring countries, our oil supply can not be guaranteed, and the new refineries will not face a rice-free kitchen.

"That's a perfectly possible thing."Feng Xiaochen said firmly.

"Also, even if oil supply can guarantee, there will be a repeated oil crisis."In recent months, the international crude oil market price has soared, and the barrel of crude oil has risen by $10.If we go up again, we won't be able to afford so much crude oil."

“Oh, according to my prediction, a $10 increase is just an appetizer, and it’s not an accident that the future price of $100 a barrel.”

“$100!“Little Feng, don’t scare me!”Wang Zhenbin was really frightened by Feng Zhichen's big words.In 1998, international oil prices were less than $20 a barrel, and China imported 40 million tons of crude oil a year, spending about $6 billion.Future imports will grow to more than 100 million tons, and if the price of crude oil per barrel exceeds $100, it will cost $70 billion.Can the state get so much foreign exchange?

He smiled and did not answer.Wang Zhenbin was silent for a moment, nodded, and said, “Although you are a little alarmist, you can’t say that it is completely impossible.”It is true that on that day, coal liquefaction is very necessary, and the price of coal-to-oil will be lower than oil.”

“No matter what the price of coal-to-oil oil, we have this weapon in our hands, which is much stronger than unarmed.”If foreign oil embargoes on us, or blackmails us with oil, we can calmly respond to the ability of coal liquefaction.The people of the oil bullies in the Middle East cannot be believed, and we must be careful that they turn their backs on people.”Feng Xiaochen said.

Wang Zhenbin smiled, “Xiao Feng, it’s no wonder Yu Rui has always said that you are smart and smart.”You just shook hands with the Brees, borrowed $22 billion in low-interest loans from people, and as soon as you turned around, you began to say that the people's family products are not credible, to guard against others, this is not a traitor.

Feng Xiaochen said, “Old King, this is not called unscrupulous, this is called pre-emptive preparation.”I actually wanted to be friends with Brees, but the other side took my handle, I had nothing in my hand, which was destined to be friends.To be friends must be equal in ability, otherwise we can only kneel and wait for the benefits of others to give us gifts.You said just now that I had the ability to borrow $22 billion from Prince Brees, but this is not my ability, but the development of the Chinese economy to this extent, and they have to bow down to us.”

Wang Zhenbin thought about it and said, “You have a reason to say it.Coal liquefaction is on the agenda.However, I don't think about it, and I need to lead the board."