Great Power Industry: You're a private company building an aircraft carrier?

"It would be most suitable for you to directly purchase our boilers and generators. You can do some of the infrastructure work for the power plant. Under our guidance, we will definitely be able to build your first supercritical boiler power plant, which will be more efficient and more environmentally friendly."

Abel continued, "The price of such a complete set is only five hundred million francs, which is absolutely a bargain!"

Five hundred million francs?

The exchange rate of the French franc varies over time; currently, 1 French franc is equivalent to 1.1833 Chinese yuan.

In other words, more than 500 million RMB is spent on a boiler and generator?

If we can produce it ourselves, the price can be controlled to within 100 million.

This is outrageous! They're asking for an exorbitant price!

If we only buy this one boiler and then import the technology to produce it ourselves, then we'll accept being ripped off.

The problem is, the French never intended to provide the technology; they just wanted to keep selling equipment and making money. How could that work?

The people present looked at each other.

Guo Xiangyang looked at Luo Rongguang with a complicated expression and shook his head.

The meaning is clear: I don't want it!

Even without a prototype, we can research it ourselves! A few million in R&D funding is enough, 500 million? Are you kidding me? Do you think our money grows on trees?

"You should know that it is very difficult to increase the pressure by one megapascal. Even if you have a subcritical boiler, you can only achieve a steam pressure of about 16 megapascals."

Abel's gaze was filled with disdain.

"To become a supercritical boiler, the pressure must be increased to at least 22 MPa. Considering the various situations that may occur during operation, the normal steam pressure needs to reach 24 MPa. In extreme cases, it can even withstand a pressure of 31 MPa!"

"Do you have this technology? You don't even have the high-pressure piping needed inside!"

“Five hundred million francs isn’t expensive. If you were to buy it separately, the high-pressure piping inside would cost two hundred million francs. You…”

"We can produce these pipes!"

Just then, a voice came from the other side.

Yu Hongxin clenched her fist, her eyes filled with authority: "We can produce high-pressure pipes, and we can manufacture P92 steel! If you can produce it, so can we. We are no worse than you!"

His words were firm and resounding.

But... everyone was dumbfounded.

Lao Yu, we've all had a frustrating day at this meeting, and nobody's happy about it. But that doesn't mean we can say whatever we want!

What? We also have P92 steel? Do we even have it?

We don't even have a P91!

Sure enough, the Frenchman opposite him let out a sneer.

Do you have P92 steel? Where is it located?

"Laiyang Steel Plant!"

"What kind of steel mill is this? We've never heard of it before."

After Abel finished speaking, the people next to him whispered a few words, and then he smiled again.

"That's the Laiyang Steel Plant that bought a bunch of scrap iron from the Nikolayev Shipyard in Ermao? Hmph, none of the world's famous steel mills use recycled scrap iron to make steel! At most, they have high-strength aircraft carrier deck steel. Do they intend to use that kind of steel to make boiler pipes? Haha!"

The Frenchman burst into hearty laughter, as if he had heard something amusing.

None of the world's top 500 steel mills use recycled scrap steel to produce steel.

The reason is simple: recycled scrap steel contains a variety of components, and the content of rare metals inside is uncertain. Even if a piece of impurity steel is mixed in, it may cause defects in the steel or even turn it into scrap steel.

Only by smelting iron ore, and specifically iron ore from fixed mines, can the consistency of internal elements in the smelted metal be guaranteed.

“That’s right, they recycled scrap steel, and they even used the scrap steel to manufacture ballpoint pen tip steel, with the same quality as those from abroad. Our news outlets have reported on this!” Guo Xiangyang said.

If it were another steel mill, it might not work.

However, Laiyang Factory was different. They manufactured ballpoint pen tip steel, breaking the foreign monopoly and filling a gap in the domestic market!

Yu Hongxin came from Laiyang Factory. Since she dares to make a guarantee here, she must have already produced it!

Guo Xiangyang was full of confidence.

"Ballpoint pen tip steel? Actually, any established steel mill in Europe can make it, but the market is too small, so we don't need to."

Abel spoke up: "However, since you say that Laiyang Factory can manufacture this kind of steel, can we go and take a look?"

have a look?

Yu Hongxin was taken aback.

He was very angry just now, provoked by the Frenchman's attitude, so that sentence just slipped out.

But now that I think about it, the timing isn't right! After all, his purpose in returning to the capital this time was to coordinate the crude steel production of Anshan Iron and Steel Group.

Although there is already overcapacity in the domestic steel industry, this is mainly due to the large number of small steel mills. The steel produced by large steel mills is still in short supply. Ansteel refines its crude steel into refined steel itself, so it doesn't need outsiders to purchase it.

Now, with crude steel still unsold, P92 alloy steel is even more out of the question.

Seeing Yu Hongxin's expression, the person opposite laughed.

Were you guys just bragging?

"Of course not!" Yu Hongxin gritted her teeth: "Our Laiyang Steel Plant can certainly produce P92 steel, but... but... the smelting process of this steel is a secret. If you see it, wouldn't you be learning the technology?"

"Ha ha!"

A cheerful voice came from the other side.

“We want to learn? We in France have this kind of steel, why would we need to learn from you? We're just going to take a look to see if you can really smelt it yourselves, or if you're just buying this kind of steel from other countries to put on a show!”

"That's right, P92 steel is no ordinary material. It has high strength, high toughness, corrosion resistance, and excellent high-temperature resistance. How could your Eastern region possibly produce it? There are no more than five factories in the world that can produce this kind of steel!"

"Let's see!" Guo Xiangyang said. "I'll show you our steelmaking industry!"

"That's right!"

Luo Rongguang also spoke up: "The most important material for supercritical units is this thick-walled tube made of P92 alloy steel. If we can produce it, can you transfer the technology to us?"

"Okay, but if you can't produce it, then you'll have to buy it from France from now on!"

These words sound like children playing house; if they're not put into a contract, then they don't count.

However, saying these things can at least give someone a sense of relief.

At this moment, everyone felt a sense of pride.

Only Yu Hongxin was filled with anxiety. Could something have gone wrong?

Guo Xiangyang was incredibly excited when he came out of the conference room.

"Old Yu, why didn't you say so sooner? If we had known that Laiyang Factory could produce P92 steel, we wouldn't have been so hesitant just now!"

"This, this..."

"What's wrong? Were you just bragging?" Guo Xiangyang's expression changed.

"No, I'm not bragging. I'm actually here to coordinate raw materials. The Yang Factory plans to smelt P92 steel, but it hasn't started yet..."

What?

Luo Rongguang, who was following behind, was also dumbfounded.