Chapter 38 Is There Such an Operation? (3)
"That's because aluminum is too expensive and cannot be used in many situations. If it is cheaper, I believe it will be used more." Contini said with a smile, "I can tell you about my idea: If the price of aluminum alloy doors and windows can If the price is reduced to twice that of the current steel doors and windows, I will use aluminum in all the houses built by United Real Estate. How much, but the overall housing quality and external image will quickly improve. You know that the housing we sell to the outside world is all mid-to-high-end housing, and it is to lead the Italian style. How can it be worthy of the middle class without better materials? "
Toth suddenly realized: a house requires at least 400 kilograms of aluminum, and 50,000 houses means 20,000 tons of aluminum.
"Second, you have to give full consideration to future aircraft... Aircraft are becoming heavier and heavier. I think there will be pure aluminum alloy aircraft in the future. Suppose I produce 5,000 to 10,000 aircraft a year, and each aircraft is priced at 2 "Estimating tons of aluminum, how many aluminum ingots do you think are needed?" Contini continued to explain, "Third, engines, whether aviation, automobile, or motorcycle engines, can be made of aluminum alloy, which is lighter and more fuel-efficient. It is also used in automobiles and motorcycles. Although the car is still mainly made of steel, aluminum parts are indispensable, which also takes up part of the aluminum ingots, so 50,000 tons seems to be a huge amount, but in fact I think it is not enough. "
Aluminum alloy doors and windows are completely used to create gimmicks for the outside world. Contini’s real purpose is to turn aluminum ingots into aircraft. During World War II, the annual output of American aircraft was calculated in units of 100,000 aircraft, and many of them were 4-engine heavy-duty aircraft. The three countries combined have less than 100,000 aircraft, and the most pitiful Italy does not even have 10,000 aircraft. He will never tolerate this situation!
Without aluminum, no matter how good the aviation industry is, it will not be able to produce airplanes, so now it is necessary to lay down the foundation of aluminum ingots: compared with the more than 800,000 tons of aluminum produced by the United States in World War II, Germany’s production of more than 200,000 tons of aluminum, 50,000 tons Still quite different. It will take 4-5 years to build the power plant and another 2 years to support the electrolytic aluminum factory. It will be at least 1930 before Libya can have a scale of 50,000 tons of aluminum. Aluminum ingots are only the first step. From aluminum ingots to manufacturing aluminum alloys and aluminum products of various materials, more electricity is consumed. At the same time, other industries booming in the United Group also require electricity, so he believes that the power gap will be very large in the future. It is huge, so it has launched 4 million kilowatts of installed capacity in one go, which is equivalent to increasing Italy’s current installed capacity by four times in one go.
Of course, the construction of a 4 million kilowatt power plant cannot be completed in one year, it will take at least 7-8 years. If Italy's electricity demand doubled every four years, it would require almost 4 million kilowatts of installed capacity by 1934. Wouldn't his setting of 5 million just match it? From a construction logic point of view, it should be one after another, always maintaining a close match, but the president has no intention of waiting for one power plant to be completed before building the next one. He would rather start construction all at once.
In Toth's eyes, this is a complete waste: When he estimated, it was impossible for Italian electricity to soar at a compound annual growth rate of 20%. This was not in line with the logic of industrial development. Who would the extra electricity be sold to? Even with so many power plants, where does the energy come from? Now it takes almost 500 grams of coal to generate 1 kilowatt hour of electricity. 360 kilowatts (excluding the natural gas power generation part) is nearly 13 million tons. Italy can only meet 10% at most. Where does the other coal come from? Who has the ability to pay for the cost of coal?
"Don't worry about coal. I signed a long-term supply contract with the Soviet Union. They have coal to export, and Turkey also has it. What's more convenient is Germany. You don't know that Germany's thermal coal production has exceeded 100 million, right? I import it from Germany Some are not a problem at all..." Contini added, "In fact, there is no need to talk about imports. The German business community and I can sign a barter contract. God is fair to exchange crude oil for coal. They gave the Germans coal. Italian oil.”
"This explanation is here for now. What you said makes sense. I'll think about it after I get back." Toth opened his notebook. "The second item is steel. I saw that the first phase production plan of United Steel is 400,000 tons. There is no problem. Italy's steel production is currently relatively small, but 1 million tons are planned for the second phase, 2 million tons are planned for the third phase, and 5 million tons are planned for the fourth phase. By 1937, no later than 1940, Italian steel production will be Reaching 10 million tons, this plan makes me feel very scary.”
“You don’t believe there is a country in the world that produces 10 million tons of steel per year?”
"No, there is! The United States has a steel production of more than 20 million tons, and Germany can reach more than 10 million tons, but Italy..." Todt paused, "With all due respect, it took 15 years to grow from 1.2 million tons to 10 million tons." It’s unbelievable that Germany will increase its production by 7 times in 15 years. I think Germany wants 10 million tons of steel. Italy…”
Contini thought to himself: This has never happened before. It took Comrade Steel 10 years to increase Soviet steel production by more than 10 million tons. Without such a large base, how could the sea of tanks soar?
For Italy, in addition to tanks, there are also warships, but these words cannot be said to Todt, so Contini can only talk about other fields.
"There is also demand in Italy. The high-speed railway currently under construction uses heavy-duty rails weighing 75 kilograms per meter. Coupled with various components, spikes and joints, 400-500 tons of steel are consumed per kilometer. This is not a small amount. Figures; let’s talk about real estate, we have to invest 5 million square meters in housing construction every year, with at least 80-85 kilograms of steel per square meter. This is also a huge number, because Italy cannot only build 5 million square meters a year; and then look at it Cars, ships, bridges, and factories are all big consumers of steel..." Contini blinked, "Now we don't have enough steel every day, and we all import it from Germany and Belgium. I hope that in the future, we can all make it locally, and we will be a great power. I think it is not consistent with Italy’s identity to rely on imports for its main industrial products.”
Toth smiled bitterly: Italy, a great power, does have such potential, but it cannot be said clearly.
"My purpose is to turn this incredible thing into a miracle on earth. In fact, the data is not as exaggerated as you said. Even if it increases by more than 7 times, it only means that the average annual compound growth rate in 15 years is about 16%. You know why I increased the power Set 20%? Just to match this 16%, Italy lacks coke, and I will use the electric furnace steelmaking method as much as possible when developing the steel industry!”
Next, various industries such as chemical industry and shipbuilding were demonstrated by Todt, but the final results, without exception, were consistent with this cruel fact: the main industrial development indicator set by Contini for Italy is an average annual compound growth rate of 12 -14%, of which United Group will contribute more than half. If measured by the median of 13%, these industrial plans of the United Group are indeed not outrageous, but the average annual compound growth rate for 15 years is 13%. What kind of miracle is this? Thoth couldn't believe it and couldn't imagine it! If it develops at this rate, he can be sure that the scale of Italian industry will exceed that of France by 1940.
"Your task is very arduous. You need to coordinate the sequence of project projects, labor demand and organization as soon as possible. I hope that each project can form a synchronous improvement of supporting industries instead of a chaotic situation where one loses sight of the other and restrains each other. The United Group cannot be allowed to "My brilliant career has turned into a joke," Contini explained, "Currently, every section leader will emphasize the importance of this unit from the point of view of individualism. I need someone who can jump out of the section and individual thinking to help me and Uncle Antonio. I have no experience in handling specific matters. Uncle Antonio is too old and too busy alone. He urgently needs an assistant. Doctor, I think you have initially developed this ability and you will be the conductor of this symphony. !”
"Your Excellency, I admire your grand blueprint. I now understand what a great cause you have in mind, but..." Toth hesitated, "I will say one last thing that I don't like. Such a large industrial layout, If such a grand vision plan is realized, the United Group will become the largest force in Italy and even Europe, controlling 90% of Italy's chemical industry, 80% of the household appliance industry, 70% of the steel industry, 60% of the aircraft manufacturing industry, and 50% of the aircraft manufacturing industry. % of the metallurgical industry, 40% of the vehicle manufacturing industry, 30% of the transportation industry, more than 20% of real estate and construction, in politics?”
"I have always regarded the United Group as a national policy group layout. Scale and integrity are the first priority. Profitability is not very important. As long as other Italian companies can make profits, I am only responsible for strengthening the Italian industry." Contini Turning around and looking out the window, "In 15 years, I will be almost 40 years old. In Italy, there are many people who enter important positions at the age of 40. I think I can give it a try."