How a Calamity Necromancer Retires - How a Calamity Necromancer Retires chapter 113

As ultra-heavy oil refineries began operating in earnest, additional factories were built one after another, and high-quality crude oil was poured out, people who were groaning at high oil prices cheered.

Although it is an insignificant amount by global standards, it is an overwhelming amount compared to the Middle Eastern countries increasing production by at most tens of thousands of barrels to maintain high oil prices.

And, of course, among those people, it was Korean refiners who welcomed this situation the most.

“now.”

Chairman Eom of Taewoong Group poured me a drink and said,

“Let’s have a drink, Chairman Han.”

Taewoong Group is a leading conglomerate that boasts annual sales of 90 trillion won and ranks 7th in the Korean business world.

The reason Taewoong Group Chairman came to see me was simple.

The Taewoong Group has the largest oil company in Korea called Taewoong Refinery, and this Taewoong Refinery is actually a core affiliate of the Taewoong Group with annual sales of 40 trillion won.

But suddenly, the Seron Group starts spouting crude oil, so I can’t help but feel impatient.

“Thank you, Chairman Eom.”

As I clinked glasses with Chairman Eom and drank all the way down, Chairman Eom looked at me and said with a smile.

“I knew our one president would do a great job. A drop of oil… No, to be precise, about a drop comes out, but that’s meaningless. Anyway, in a country that relies on imports for most raw materials, it’s not enough to make various metals self-sufficient, and even produce crude oil. hahahaha.”

“I was lucky.”

“Good luck. Where are you lucky to see it? Abilities are also skills. There is probably only one person in the world who has such diverse and effective abilities.”

There are multi-talented people, but most of them are in a self-contained situation, so I might look a little peculiar.

Even if my abilities have been revealed so far, there will be dozens of them.

“The Seron Refinery sells crude oil at a 10 percent discount.”

“Exactly, it’s limited to Korea.”

“Huh. People will like it. Even if it was not, the suffering of the common people was not the only one because of high oil prices. So do companies.”

The reason I give 10% DC is because the business environment improves only when oil prices are low, from the perspective of the Seron Group, which has hundreds of partners in Korea and is engaged in various manufacturing industries.

In addition, securing customers is important in an era of low oil prices, and there was also a reason to try to salivate Korea in advance.

Because Korea was a market that was by no means small, with the world’s 8th largest oil consumption.

“By the way, Chairman Han.”

“Tell me.”

Chairman Eom narrowed his eyes and said.

“I’m asking just in case, are you planning on entering the oil refining industry?”

The creator of Seron Essential Oil may wonder what that means, but to be precise, what Seron Essential Oil does is only a small part of the entire oil refining process.

Since the light oil produced by Seron Refinery is crude oil, it needs to be refined to make gasoline and diesel as well as plastic and asphalt.

As 70 percent of Taewoong Oil Refinery’s sales of 40 trillion are generated by importing and refining crude oil, it was obvious that Taewoong Oil Refinery would suffer a fatal blow if I went beyond crude oil production and started refining myself, so it was the first thing I checked.

I said with a smile.

“Jeong Yura. If you do, that would be great. As much as we produce crude oil ourselves, we are not only price competitive, but we will be able to generate more profits in the process.”

At my words, President Eom said with a firm expression.

“Chairman Han, refinery is never easy…”

I interrupted President Eom’s words and said,

“But I am not greedy for anything beyond my capabilities. As you just said, refining is never easy.”

If refining was that easy, would Venezuela have gotten there?

Companies, like people, are much more efficient when each individual focuses on what he or she is good at.

“I will only go as far as making crude oil. Refinement will be left to existing companies. In the first place, are you even refining it again when you are busy increasing crude oil production? Second to technology, I can’t because I don’t have time. It is much more efficient to increase production and sell more at that time.”

Only then did Chairman Eom loosen his expression and say.

“Uh ha ha. It’s reassuring to hear that. I think Taewoong Group and Seron Group will be really good partners.”

Chairman Eom speaks the same story as I told the President of Venezuela.

I said that to President Eom.

“In that sense, do you sign a long-term contract at this opportunity? Taewoong Oil Refinery is good because it can supply crude oil at a low price, and I like that it can increase crude oil production comfortably by securing customers. We have nothing to lose, right?”

Currently, Korea relies on the Middle East for 80 percent of its total crude oil imports.

Turning it all towards me.

Chairman Eom smiled and said.

“That’s a good suggestion. Then, shall we have a serious talk?”

*

After securing customers starting with Korean oil companies, Seron Oil Refinery expands production by indiscriminately increasing refineries.

Certainly, as the saying goes that oil is black gold, the more production increases, the more money in your pocket increases exponentially.

This is why oil-producing countries focus only on selling oil and neglect other industries.

While traveling back and forth between Venezuela and Korea, refining extra-heavy oil and selling it as crude oil, I heard unpleasant news from Kim Young-tae of the CIA.

“Cuts?”

It is the news that OPEC, an international organization of oil-producing countries, will make an official request to reduce Venezuela’s production of extra-heavy crude oil.

“That’s right. It seems that Seron is making such a request after refining and distributing extra-heavy oil from Venezuela on a large scale.

OPEC was a kind of oil cartel disguised as an international organization of oil-producing countries, to which Venezuela is also a member.

The oil shock of the 1970s was also a crisis created artificially by deliberately reducing production in OPEC, which has a great impact on the world economy.

When OPEC thinks that oil prices are too low, it cuts production, raises oil prices, and threatens countries that oppose them with oil.

When oil prices stagnated due to the unexpected appearance of Seron Oil, OPEC pulled out its sword in earnest.

“It’s ridiculous. Aside from our refining capacity, we still only have 1 million barrels of extra-heavy oil produced in Venezuela a day, so are you asking us to cut production?”

The head of OPEC is Saudi Arabia, which produces 12 million barrels per day.

Even though Venezuela has the world’s No. 1 reserve, most of it is extra-heavy oil, and now that economic sanctions have just been eased, all it produces is only 1 million barrels a day.

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better for them to just reduce their production?”

“I don’t want to suffer loss, so I force it on the other person.”

“What is President Pablo?”

“Of course I would decline.”

I guess so.

Right now, the target of OPEC’s request for production cuts is not for me, but for Venezuela, a member country.

I’m just trying to do some business, but my brother next door, who used to live well, is pushing me and threatening me to sell moderately because our store can’t do business because of you.

Anyway, I’m glad you turned it down.

After all, President Pablo isn’t even an idiot, but would he give up oil, the country’s only hope for survival?

But then, Kim Young-tae said with a serious expression.

“However, it is unclear how long Venezuela will be able to say no.”

“What do you mean? If it serves the national interest, we should do it no matter what others say.”

“Precisely because of that, at some point we have no choice but to accept a production cut request. If Venezuela continues to refuse to cut production, OPEC will drastically increase oil production.”

Do you mean increase rather than decrease?

Then, oil prices actually plummeted… Ah.

“… that’s right. If oil prices fall, price competitiveness of Venezuelan extra-heavy oil disappears.”

Clearly, thanks to Seron refinery, Venezuela’s extra-heavy oil has found hope.

However, due to the limited amount of refining, the amount that Seron Refinery digests out of 1 million barrels produced in Venezuela is only 300,000 barrels despite the rapid expansion of the factory.

Of course, the remaining 700,000 barrels of extra-heavy oil must be sold to other refineries, but if oil prices suddenly drop, the rest of the companies except Seron Oil cannot digest it, so 70 percent of the oil will float in the air.

“That’s why President Pablo came out so aggressively.”

President Pablo readily accepted my request to supply preferential oil to Seron Oil, even though it was not a price increase.

The president knew this would happen.

And that the only way for Venezuela to be free from such low oil price threats from other countries is the Seron refinery.

“So, even though Venezuela is an early member of OPEC, which has the world’s largest reserves, it has been continuously watching OPEC’s notice. Because OPEC can survive only by raising oil prices.”

“That is the key, the expansion of Seron essential oil.”

“you’re right. And OPEC is well aware of that. That’s why I took out the production cut request card this time.”

Kim Young-tae looked at me and said.

“I am concerned that Venezuela, which has enormous reserves, will join forces with Seron Oil to become the world’s largest oil producer, surpassing Saudi Arabia, the head of OPEC. OPEC probably knows that this request will be rejected. Instead, they’ll pull out another card and negotiate. Like putting a limit on the amount of extra-heavy oil from Venezuela that Seron refinery buys.”

Will Seron oil’s refining capacity go up and be put on a leash before Venezuela becomes completely free?

“These guys are completely assholes.”

“It is OPEC that mass-produced crude oil through shale fields in the United States, saying that it would stop it, and increased production on a large scale and bankrupted en masse shale companies with high production costs. We will do anything for oil hegemony.”

The oil cartel, OPEC, is so serious about oil that it even points a gun at the United States.

The problem is that that oil supremacy actually works.

The proof is that shale companies went bankrupt in a row, but the United States did not take any special action.

“This is a race against time.”

If Venezuela holds out until the refining capacity of Seron Oil can cover all of Venezuela, Venezuela and Seron Oil will win, and if Venezuela surrenders before that happens, it will be our defeat.

But it was also an opportunity.

I said with my eyes shining.

‘This means that if we overcome this, we can completely eliminate Venezuela’s dependence on OPEC and make it all-in on Seron oil.’

Then, what I have to do is to actively raise the refining capacity of Seron Oil, while giving Venezuela strength to withstand OPEC’s pressure.

“I’m asking just in case, the US is on the side of Seron Oil, right?”

“Of course. The United States is the world’s largest consumer of oil.”

The amount of oil produced by itself is by no means small, but that is not enough for the domestic consumption of the United States. The United States is the world’s largest oil importer.

The advantage of being stably provided with oil from Venezuela, which is close to the United States, is enormous.

I said with a grin.

“great. I didn’t like the Middle Eastern guys, but let’s see who wins.”

*

Venezuela was a founding member of OPEC and a country that led the establishment of OPEC.

The reason was simple.

In order to stably sell extra-heavy oil, it was necessary to artificially raise oil prices.

That’s why Venezuela succeeded in creating an oil cartel by attracting Saudi Arabia and Iran.

However, OPEC, which was like that, is now holding Venezuela’s ankles in reverse.

“sh*t.”

President Juan Pablo was a man who believed that his mission was to make Venezuela, a country where millions of people fled for their lives due to inflation and economic collapse, a country where people could live like human beings again.

For such a president, Seron refinery was literally hope itself.

It was the only way to make extra-heavy oil valuable even at low oil prices.

But sure enough, OPEC, thinking that their oil supremacy is threatened, intervenes right away.

Saudi Arabia, which produces 12 million barrels, does not cut production, but now it is asking Venezuela to cut production, which produces only 1 million barrels of ultra-heavy oil, which is much lower than Saudi crude oil.

As it was a request that did not fit common sense, the president rejected it with a single knife, but the next problem was.

“Instead of withdrawing the request for production cuts, introduce a quota system for Seron Oil?”

After the request was rejected, OPEC advised Venezuela to introduce a quota system as if it had waited.

It is to fix the amount of extra-heavy oil supplied to Seron Refinery to less than 20 percent of the total production.

If that happens, the free oil exports that President Juan Pablo dreamed of would have no choice but to cross the water.

As we have to export the remaining 80 percent to other oil companies, we have to keep oil prices above $70, so we have no choice but to keep an eye on OPEC.

said the president with a firm expression.

“These are the guys who destroyed the American shale companies. If we refuse, it is obvious that they will try to isolate us by forcibly dropping oil prices.”

The best thing is to increase the refining ability of Seron essential oil quickly.

However, even now, it is raising its refining capacity at a much faster rate than expected, and it was physically impossible to wish for more than this.

It is said that all you need is a toxic gas processor, but since sheep are sheep, it takes a lot of time to make and install the toxic gas processor.

“Can I hold on?”

Today’s Venezuela is fragile enough to collapse even with a small shock.

Even if oil exports, which account for 96 percent of total exports, were stopped, Venezuela was done with it.

After thinking about it for a long time, the chief of staff knocked and said.

“Your Excellency, Chairman Han Ji-hyeok requested a private meeting.”

At that, the president said with a wry smile.

“I guess you heard the news.”

It is only natural that the news reaches Han Ji-hyeok, who is receiving help from the CIA.

“Please come in.”

“All right.”

After waiting for a while, Han Ji-hyeok entered the presidential office with an interpreter and sat down in a chair.

Seeing this, the president smiled and said.

“I guess you heard the news.”

Then, the interpreter translated Han Ji-hyeok’s words.

“I heard that OPEC requested a production cut.”

“I declined that. But then comes the problem.”

The president who told me what OPEC demanded.

Then Jihyeok Han looked at the president and said.

“The president asks what he wants to do.”

“Venezuela is a sovereign country. No matter what other countries say, we must decide in the direction that is in line with our national interests. But… I don’t know if I can hold on.”

Han Ji-hyeok, who was silent for a moment at the frank words of the president, spoke.

“Are you concerned that OPEC may lower oil prices through increased production?”

“you’re right. Currently, we are planning to increase production from 1 million barrels per day to 1.3 million barrels, but Seron Refinery’s refining capacity is still only 300,000 barrels.”

Venezuela, where even a penny of foreign currency is not enough, cannot wait for Seron essential oil forever.

Due to high oil prices, the plan was to first increase production by 300,000 barrels and then continuously increase production, but OPEC’s intervention made the possibility unclear.

Once drilling is done, oil must be extracted continuously unless the drilling facility is completely closed. It is not a big deal for a rich country like Saudi Arabia to close a few drilling facilities, but Venezuela is not.

But suddenly, Han Ji-hyeok smiled and said.

“He asks if the promise to be a good partner with Seron is still valid.”

“Of course it is valid.”

“If we can endure it, and finally, if Seron Oil can fully handle Venezuela, they ask if we can afford to leave OPEC.”

At the words of Han Ji-hyeok, who seemed to have a plan, the president spoke in a voice filled with expectations.

“of course. In the past, OPEC was the only partner to maintain high oil prices, but now it is only a hindrance to Venezuela.”

“Then the Seron Group says they will come to the fore.”

“What is that…?”

“He says he will buy oil if there is surplus oil and lend money if money is insufficient.”

*

The strength of a country is money after all.

OPEC’s threat is that it will eventually dry up this money line and cause Venezuela to wither.

Then you have to pay the same amount.

Even if there are people with more money than me in the world, there is no one who can spend money freely like me.

Ordinary corporations or countries invest huge amounts of money to purchase raw materials that are not needed, rot them, and lend money to countries with the worst national credit ratings, such as Venezuela?

It’s a serious enough agenda that the board of directors is convened and the impeachment of the president is talked about, but it’s not the Seron Group.

I said with a relaxed expression.

“No matter what kind of fuss there is in OPEC, Seron will stop it. Whether it be oil, money, or force.”

Oil left at low oil prices?

I just buy them all.

Even if the storage space is insufficient, it is sold to another refiner at a lower price than the purchase price.

Are you short on money?

lend me what

Instead, you just need to get good collateral.

If you have to, take it as land and make Seron City in Venezuela.

Of course, a huge amount of money will be broken.

Even though it is a poor country, it supports a country with the Seron Group alone and at the same time faces many OPECs so that money rots.

However, once you win this war, the fruits you will gain will be laughable at the loss.

So now is the time to invest.

It draws surplus funds from all affiliates of the Seron Group and responds to OPEC’s money-making.

I said with a bright smile.

“I don’t like losing fights. So, don’t you have any intention of sticking with the Seron Group, no, trust me to be exact?”