Ukraine.
The northern border of Rivne Oblast is more than 80 kilometers away from the capital city of Rivni. Simon brought a group of people here on the second day after arriving.
This is the site of one of four operating nuclear power plants in Ukraine.
Rivne Oblast Nuclear Power Plant.
If you want to build Rivne Oblast into a 'Factory of Europe', abundant cheap human resources are only the most basic condition. If you only need people, Africa may have to become a 'Factory of the Earth'. In addition to low-cost human resources, if a region wants to develop, it also needs a complete infrastructure supporting system.
At this stage, the biggest obstacle restricting Simon's deployment in Rivne Oblast is energy.
Mainly electricity supply.
Before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Ukraine's total annual power generation reached 290 billion kilowatt-hours. After the disintegration, due to the economic collapse, the country's total annual power generation plummeted to 170 billion kilowatt-hours in 1994 in just a few years, a drop of as much as 42%. Currently, even the capital Kiev is experiencing frequent power outages due to power shortages.
The OEM industry has a huge demand for electricity, and Simon must first solve this problem.
The Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident that occurred in Ukraine during the former Soviet Union made the entire Ukrainian people very resistant to nuclear power. When former President Leon Kravchuk encouraged Ukraine to break away from the Soviet Union, he took advantage of this public sentiment. Promise that Ukraine will gradually dismantle all nuclear power plants in the country after becoming independent.
When Ukraine broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991, the Kravchuk authorities fulfilled their promise and immediately mothballed the nuclear power unit projects under construction in the country, and planned to successively decommission and dismantle several nuclear power plants.
However, as Ukraine's economy takes a turn for the worse, the power generation of traditional thermal and hydroelectric power stations continues to plummet. Instead, the four nuclear power plants still operating in Ukraine can stably provide the country with about 50 billion kilowatt hours of electricity every year, occupying the current market share. Ukraine generates 30% of its annual electricity generation.
Under such circumstances, not only the Ukrainian government, but also the Ukrainian people, not many people mentioned the need to shut down the nuclear power plant, otherwise more areas of the country would be plunged into darkness at night.
Not only that, just last year, the Kuchma authorities also lifted the ban on nuclear power issued in the early stages of disintegration and planned to redevelop some previously mothballed nuclear power units under construction.
The construction cost of nuclear power plants is very expensive. A large amount of money has been invested in the initially mothballed nuclear power units. As long as they can be completed, they can provide the country with an additional 20 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity supply per year.
However, the ban has been lifted, and the biggest problem in completing the project is money.
The construction of a nuclear power plant often requires billions of dollars, and the current Ukrainian finances simply cannot afford this expenditure.
The other three nuclear power plants have nothing to do with the Westeros system, and Simon is only concerned about the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant.
The construction of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant began in 1973. Initially, there were only two small units of 380 MW. In 1980, the construction of Unit 3 was started, with the power increased to 950 MW. The construction of Unit 4, started in 1986, was also 950 MW. The first three units of the nuclear power plant have been put into operation smoothly, with an annual power generation of about 11 billion kilowatt hours.
Due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Unit 4, which had been under construction for five years and was about to be completed, was mothballed in 1991.
Not to mention the expensive operation and maintenance costs in the later period, the complete construction cost of a single 950-megawatt unit at this stage is about 1.5 billion US dollars. Even though Unit 4 has been mostly completed, after several years of storage, it is necessary to restart and install power generation. Equipment and turning on the reactor to provide power will cost US$500 million.
However, as long as Unit 4 is completed, the additional annual power supply of 5 billion kilowatt-hours, coupled with the recovery of some local thermal power plants, can basically meet the needs of the Westeros system for expansion in Rivne Oblast in the next few years.
US$500 million is not a big sum of money for Simon, and the same is true for other international capital giants.
However, Ukraine signed an agreement last year to dismantle all domestic nuclear weapons and barely received US$330 million in compensation from the United States. Now Ukraine is in such a mess. Unless there is sufficient security guarantee and profit-driven, no one wants to rashly go to such a place. National investments that may be wiped out at any time.
The system of Westeros can provide the Ukrainian government with much-needed guarantees.
Compared with last year's low profile, Simon brought a large team covering all aspects to Ukraine this time.
During this visit to the Ronov Nuclear Power Plant, in addition to the accompanying executives from the Westeros system, there was also a consulting team from Westinghouse Electric and an investment inspection team from First Boston, a subsidiary of Credit Suisse.
The former was invited by the Westeros System to conduct a series of technical assessments on Unit 4 of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant to confirm the feasibility and related risks of restarting construction.
The latter involves the financing issue for restarting Unit 4.
Regarding Ukraine, Simon does not intend to monopolize the interests. Although the Westeros system is fully capable of providing all expenses for the restart of Unit 4 of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant, Simon still plans to connect with Wall Street to help raise the funds through the issuance of bonds.
In addition, the leader of the First Boston expedition team was Bill Spurter, Grace's husband.
This business is not too big for a Wall Street giant, but for an individual, if he can get such a project, it is a good achievement.
Bill Spurter is mainly responsible for First Boston's stock trading business, but he himself is one of the two presidents of the investment bank's securities trading department. Promoting such a project can also naturally extend his influence to the bond business.
In order to welcome Simon's visit, the Ukrainian Minister of Energy Pavlo Lazarenko personally came forward, as well as senior officials of the Ukrainian Nuclear Power Company, which manages Ukraine's nuclear power business. Not only that, Simon also saw in the welcoming crowd Another woman who can be described as a 'storm' is Yulia Tymoshenko.
Simon didn't have any good impressions of either of them, but it didn't prevent him from talking and laughing with each other along the way.
Everyone toured the interior of the nuclear power plant. At noon, they ate in a public restaurant for nuclear power plant employees. Simon personally made the decision to entertain the top management of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant.
After lunch, one of Lazarenko's assistants mentioned to Girl A that he hoped to return to Rivni to discuss follow-up matters.
In a place like a nuclear power plant, even if many facts indicate that there is no danger under normal circumstances, ordinary people will still instinctively feel scared.
Simon had no objection to this either.
The long motorcade left the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant, probably to show grandeur, and there were police cars in front and behind to clear the way, making it very arrogant. Of course, this kind of scene will definitely not appear on the local TV station of Rivne Oblast, which has been controlled by the Westeros system. The relevant news will only report that the Minister of Energy and overseas investors visited the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant. Simon never said Will appear.
The Rivne Oblast Nuclear Power Plant is about 80 kilometers away from the city of Rivni, which is considered a fairly safe distance to some extent.
Take the United States as an example. Dozens of nuclear power plants on the east coast are actually within a hundred kilometers of urban areas, but most people will not have much idea about them after they get used to them.
In order to show his importance, Simon continued to attend the cooperation talks in the afternoon in person. Of course, he and Lazarenko have only finalized the main cooperation framework, and the relevant responsible persons will continue to negotiate on the details.
In the roughly determined plan, after completing the technical assessment of Unit 4 of the Rivne Oblast Nuclear Power Plant, as long as the standards are met, the Westeros System will be responsible for helping the Ukrainian Nuclear Power Company issue a bond overseas for the use of Unit 4. Resumption of construction, as well as the power grid reconstruction project between the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant and the city of Rivni.
It was already four o'clock in the afternoon when the talks ended.
A dinner was also arranged in the evening at the home of Sergei Komorov, the main spokesman for the Ukrainian side of the Westeros system.
After everyone separated, Simon temporarily returned to the villa in the south of the city.
Because it was a cloudy day, it was already dark in Rivni at around four o'clock in the afternoon.
After returning to the villa, I took a shower, changed my clothes and went downstairs. I had just sat down in a comfortable small living room on the first floor when Girl A walked in holding a folder.
After sending away the three girls who were clinging to him like kittens, Simon smiled and asked, "How are things going?"
Alison did not sit down, but stood tall and tall next to Simon and said: "The news has spread. In addition, boss, this is the list of technical backbones of the Rivne Oblast Nuclear Power Plant compiled by our people, Ms. Miller During the negotiation process with the person in charge of the Ukrainian Nuclear Power Company, we have also put forward our request for the Ukrainian Nuclear Power Company to form a stronger technical team to support the construction and later maintenance of Unit 4 of the nuclear power plant."
The banquet at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant at noon was Simon's intention.
After the luncheon, Simon had someone break the news that Simon Westeros had insisted on arranging the luncheon, and Energy Minister Lazarenko was very dissatisfied with the loss of status of dining with a group of employees.
This is actually the case.
The main reason for doing this is to win people's hearts.
Simon is actually a little scared of places like nuclear power plants, and he will not go there rashly if it is not necessary.
Proposing to visit the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant in person, Simon's other target is actually a group of Ukrainian nuclear technology experts.
This time, it created the impression that Simon Westeros attaches great importance to talents. With the cooperation of some subsequent means, the Westeros system can quietly attract a group of talents in related fields.
The Westeros family's "Sword of Damocles Project" has never stopped.
This kind of deep secret cannot be disclosed easily even to Girl A.
After listening to Girl A's report, Simon took the document handed over by her without explaining anything. Just as he was about to pat his thigh and ask Alison, who was obviously starting to have a little mood, to sit down and teach her a lesson, Celia Miller appeared at the door again. .
Seeing Girl A turning around and leaving without saying a word, Celia smiled and asked, "Did I bother you?"
Simon continued to pat his leg: "Obviously, you come to fill the gap."
Celia turned her head and glanced, turned around and closed the door of the living room and locked it. Then she came over, sat down on the man's lap, let a pair of big hands wrap around her waist, and said, "The Westinghouse team hopes to Won the power generation equipment order for Unit 4.”
Hearing this, Simon paused and asked, "Is Westinghouse's equipment fully compatible with the Ukrainian reactor? This nuclear power plant must serve our industry and cannot be messed with."
Celia said: "I made a few more phone calls for consultation. The problem is not big. The key is cost. Westinghouse equipment is twice as expensive as Ukraine's own construction. Of course, the power generation efficiency of Westinghouse equipment will be higher. According to According to the data they gave, Ukraine's self-produced equipment will produce about 5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually after completion, and Westinghouse's equipment can increase efficiency by about 10%."
Simon said: "This is not a problem. As long as it is proven feasible, how to deal with the top executives of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant and Lazarenko is Westinghouse's business."
Celia nodded: "I think so too."
Simon warned: "Please let people study this aspect again. Don't believe everything Westinghouse says. Remember, our interests come first."
"I see."
To complete Unit 4 of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant, of the subsequent investment of US$500 million, approximately US$300 million will be used for the purchase and installation of power generation equipment. If Westinghouse equipment is used, the price will double and the total investment will increase. $800 million.
As long as Westinghouse's equipment is complete and feasible, Simon is happy to see Ukraine Nuclear Power take on more liabilities.
The higher the debt, the stronger the dependence on the Westeros system.
Of course, the premise of everything must be that the plan is feasible.
Ukraine Nuclear Power wants to restart the construction of Unit 4 of the Rovne Nuclear Power Plant. In terms of funding, there is no way around the guarantee of the Westeros system. Without Simon's consent, no one dares to invest money in this project. If there is no money, Westinghouse can't even hope to do any business.
Therefore, the decision-making power of the whole matter actually lies in Simon's hands.
Seeing Celia nodding, Simon thought for a moment and then said: "Tell the people in Westinghouse that the breakthrough point of the matter lies with Lazarenko. This is a very greedy person, so don't be stingy. As long as you get the other party, they will pay for it." No matter how much you earn, you can earn back from this business.”
Celia agreed and said, "We are here."
Simon said: "I've asked Sergey to take care of it. You don't need to interfere in this matter. You don't need to know anything."
Celia understood that the man was thinking about himself and nodded obediently.
In my memory, Lazarenko, who greatly influenced President Kuchma's career, was unscrupulous in his greed. Basically, if you don't give money, you can't get anything done with him.
Of course, as long as enough money is given, national interests and the like are all just a cloud.
In the past, Lazarenko would be promoted from the position of Minister of Energy to Prime Minister of Ukraine next year. Due to conflicts with Kuchma and his poor personal reputation, he quickly stepped down within a year.
Then, the resigned former prime minister suddenly stood on the opposite side of Kuchma. After the game between the two sides failed, he fled overseas. His close partner Tymoshenko took over and became the "people's fighter" and began to continue fighting against the "rotten Kuchma". Chima authorities' fight.
A news detail in my memory shows how greedy Lazarenko really is.
After losing power, this pro-American senior Ukrainian official fled to the United States to seek political asylum. However, he was arrested by federal authorities on money laundering and other charges. He paid a sky-high bail of US$90 million. In the end, he still did not escape. Not only was he imprisoned in the United States, Personal assets were also confiscated.
In order to gain more support, the chess pieces that have been used up can usually get a pretty good ending.
Ukraine's chess pieces don't seem to get this kind of treatment.
It can only be said that it is probably because there are too many people who are willing to take refuge and the company itself is too rich.