Chapter 19 Sanctioned South Africa
Since Seryozha successfully squeezed out Minister Zhuravlev of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the oil supply of the Mediterranean Trading Company began to increase significantly. [Latest chapter reading] But in the current world trade pattern, due to the long-term economic downturn, oil cannot be sold at a very good price.
The oil obtained by Glencore is obtained by exchanging grain, and the cost is extremely low. Even if the current price is cut in half, there is still some profit. But the oil industry of the Soviet Union could not afford such low international oil prices. If Seryozha wanted to control the power of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation for a long time, he must not make the Soviet Union's foreign trade data too ugly. Therefore, it has become the common interests of Glencore and the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation to find large oil buyers who are willing to pay high prices around the world. In addition, Glencore also exclusively represented the oil export business of Iran, a sanctioned country. The supply pressure from the two major oil-producing countries, the Soviet Union and Iran, made Mark Rich begin to feel unprecedented market sales pressure.
Mark did not hesitate for too long, and soon focused his attention on a wealthy country in the southern hemisphere-South Africa.
Just last year, the South African National Party, which won the general election in South Africa, came to power, and then began to implement a stricter apartheid system across the country, stirring up waves with one stone. The South African government's policies immediately sparked sanctions and condemnation across the globe. Several major economic countries in the West, including South Africa's former suzerain Britain, have begun to impose comprehensive embargoes and economic sanctions on South Africa. The South African National Party is still unwilling to give in. They would rather bear the losses caused by the sanctions than carry out their own racial system to the end.
So all of a sudden, the prices of various daily necessities in South Africa rose across the board. South Africa is one of the few wealthy countries in Africa. This country has a high degree of industrialization and has a huge consumption capacity for oil. South Africa is also the largest gold producer in the world. China, with its strong ability to pay for bulk commodities, is definitely the best partner for a wonderful company like Glencore that specializes in doing business with sanctioned countries.
Mark Rich's disciples quickly developed this whole new line of money. With Tonya fully in charge of the Mediterranean Shipping, the Gorky Brotherhood no longer has any transportation obstacles, and Glencore began to plan the business of smuggling Iranian and Soviet oil to South Africa.
Mark Rich's chief deputy, Greene, ventured out of Switzerland and came to South Africa with the Soviet diplomatic identity that Seryozha asked the Ministry of the Interior to help him forge. You must know that in order to make this deal this time, Green is taking a great risk, because once Green's true identity is discovered, then he is likely to be extradited to the United States for trial, but for this big deal, Green It's all gone.
Green is a person who has seen big scenes. In the past, when Mark Rich was not wanted globally, Green was the trader who opened the door to Iranian oil. He has met Khomeini many times to discuss oil cooperation, and he can even talk directly to Iran's oil minister at any time. At the beginning, it was Mark Rich and Green who snatched a place from the monopolized seven oil sisters by relying on the banned oil shipped from Iran. They were the pioneers of the oil spot trading market, and they were also countless The most legendary among traders.
After Green arrived in South Africa,
Soon a new identity was changed. Colombian Petroleum Corporation's Chief Trade Representative. This identity is naturally forged. Green himself is very smart. In addition to his native English, he is also fluent in Persian, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, French, German and other languages. Impersonating a South American trade representative is not difficult at all. Soon he contacted the senior officials of the South African National Energy Corporation and South African energy ministers in South Africa.
"Gentlemen. I'm here to save you! If you don't want to be ousted because people can't afford gasoline, you better cooperate with me! Because only I can meet your huge oil shortage caused by sanctions!" Green was unceremonious in the negotiation.
A group of South African government officials sitting opposite Green looked at each other, and they could not refute Green's law. It is no longer the era of decades ago. Even the United States has abandoned the racial system. South Africa is already one of the few countries in the world that adheres to the tradition of white supremacy. But this persistence has come at a heavy price.
"We still have doubts that the Colombian Petroleum Corporation you represent can meet our needs. I wonder how you can prove that you really have this capability? Just empty teeth will not work!" officials of the South African Ministry of Energy retorted.
"I think during the time we are talking, one of our Suez-class oil tankers should be docking! We are declaring industrial pulp raw materials exported from the Soviet Union! If you call the Port of Cape Town now The customs should know that what we said is true! Anyway, the first shipment of crude oil has arrived at the port, so it is your business! Whether or not this business is done has no effect on us!" Green said in this sentence At that time, he was actually very nervous, but he believed in his own judgment. The South African government, which has tasted the power of economic sanctions, will not ignore a trading partner who is willing to take the risk of helping them smuggle oil! Once successful, Green will harvest gold from South Africa. In today's world, due to the risk of economic downturn, gold has been strengthening, and even the US dollar cannot match the value of gold.
"How much oil supply can you provide us every month?" The official of the Ministry of Energy asked his staff expectantly while hinting to his staff to confirm Green's news.
"We have as much as you want. In addition, we can also provide some agricultural and sideline products, such as coffee, wheat, and soybeans! But we hope to pay in gold. Of course, the price is also higher than the price on the international market. It’s a little more expensive, you have to know that we are not taking a single risk in this matter!” Green negotiated with the other party.
The officials of the Ministry of Energy who turned around and left the meeting quickly contacted the customs. Within ten minutes, the customs confirmed that Green’s words were true. Nia put all the cargo ships of the Mediterranean Trading Company with the woman's name) indeed they docked at the Port of Cape Town with a full load of crude oil, and the declared goods were paper-making raw materials and industrial pulp that were not included in the embargo. After getting the confirmation, the official wrote the news on a note and quietly handed it to the Minister of Energy who was still waiting in the meeting room.
"Mr. Green, I think we can try to cooperate first!" The Minister of Energy immediately let go when he saw the news.