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Chapter 1217: Chapter 1074: Have You Freaking Lost Your Mind? (Please Subscribe!)
No grand opening.
No celebratory cannons fired.
The company quietly put up its sign.
Hardly anyone knows about it now, but soon, its name will be known to every household in this nation, that is the purpose of the company’s existence, and its significance.
Before all this.
Electric power in Congo Gold was controlled by a single company.
---Congo-Kinshasa National Power Company.
How to put it.
It’s neither a big nor small company. Big in that it monopolized Congo Gold’s electricity and power grid facilities, just like Huaxia’s State Grid, but it’s small in scale.
Currently.
The total installed power generation capacity in Congo Gold is only 2.07 million kilowatts, with ninety-nine percent being hydroelectric, using technologies and equipment from decades ago, with some generators broken and no one to repair them.
Effectively abandoned.
And Huaxia?
It’s now close to seven hundred million kilowatts.
Ten years from now.
This number will grow to one billion nine hundred million kilowatts and will continue to rise.
Such a severe power shortage means that even in the capital, Kinshasa, experiencing over a dozen power outages a day is entirely normal. Without proper voltage stabilizers installed, prepare for your electrical appliances to be damaged.
This has made diesel generators practically a ’standard feature’ in the country.
You could see.
How much ’say’ the electric company had in Congo Gold.
If it wasn’t for everyone needing electricity.
People would all be up in arms.
A company without a voice is not capable of stopping Waite from forcefully pushing through the new "Electricity Law." It’s been decades; you’ve failed to perform, so let’s give other companies a try.
Hence.
Since last month.
Tang Qing had utilized the vast network established by the system in the locale, contacting several influential families in Congo, proposing a plan to jointly develop and build Congo Gold’s power grid.
They thought it had great potential.
Constant power outages.
Who could stand it?
And the prospect depicted in the plan was very attractive, so, led by one of the families, they used their relationships to quickly get Parliament to pass the new "Electricity Law."
And in Parliament.
No one spoke up in defense of the electric company.
They too had had enough.
...
Congo Gold.
Presidential Mansion.
Waite was happily pacing back and forth in his office.
Unexpectedly. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
In just one short month.
He had received a second surprise. The first was the Steel Factory, with its pleasing steel production rates; Tang Qing had also brought in two major projects from companies, and now he was starting to change the status quo of the electricity.
Waite was very supportive.
A country with a power deficit dreaming of rising up was nearly delusional. This was more important than steel; with electricity, machines could operate and produce a continuous stream of industrial products.
People’s lives would change.
"Sir, Weburen would like to see you."
The Secretary’s call came through.
"Let him in," Waite’s smile gradually faded.
"Yes."
In a moment.
A man in his fifties, advanced in his years, entered. This was the Chairman and General Manager of the Congo-Kinshasa National Power Company, who had been in control of Congo Gold’s power system for nearly fifteen years.
"Mr. President." Weburen said respectfully.
"What’s the matter?" Waite said flatly.
Weburen, seeing Waite’s displeasure and knowing the reason, still plucked up his courage and said, "Well, if the private electricity sector is opened up, our company definitely can’t compete."
"And then?"
Weburen cautiously spoke, "I.. um.. Can we also join this new company?"
"Pfft..."
Waite looked at Weburen with an expression as if he was looking at a ’curious creature’.
Are you freaking insane?
You want to give up and smash everything to pieces? You were all dramatic about it just the other day.
"Why?" Waite asked, puzzled.
Veblen took a deep breath and said, "By doing this, the Company would still be led by us, we’re simply introducing private capital, which could effectively protect our electricity security."
This was a solution they had discussed internally for a long time.
Since the existence was already a foregone conclusion.
Then let’s collaborate.
But I’ll be the one in charge.
That way, there might even be a fortune to be made.
"..."
Waite understood. This wasn’t a case of giving up hope, but rather wanting to pick the fruits—others pour in substantial capital, yet you still call the shots. You’ve got a pretty shrewd plan.
Waite almost laughed out of exasperation.
"Electricity security?"
Veblen quickly nodded in agreement.
"Yes, we don’t know what shareholders they’ll bring in in the future. If a large amount of foreign capital comes in, that’s not a good thing; it’s easy to be controlled by foreign capital."
He took a deep breath.
Waite walked up to Veblen.
Looking at him, Veblen didn’t dare to meet his gaze.
"Do you think, with our country’s strength, we have the qualifications to talk about this kind of security?" Waite said angrily.
"What’s wrong with foreign capital? All our cars are imported from abroad. Why don’t you suggest that we take over those companies? Our steel output is almost nil. Why don’t you suggest that we buy Wan Qing Steel?"
"Our electrical equipment is also aided by foreign countries. Why don’t you suggest we join them? Our medical equipment and medicines all rely on imports. Now you’re telling me, national security."
"Did a pig hit your brain?"
"What place is this, Central Africa."
"Our country has only thirty-seven kilometers of coastline, no ports, and terrible transportation. What else can we do? Not allow others to invest? The moment someone invests, you start talking about security."
"Are you here for the security of electricity, or the security of your position? Tell me, is it safer to be like before, lacking everything, having nothing?"
Waite almost roared.
Damn it.
Everyone was impoverished.
Finally, we hunt down prey, and you tell me eating meat is bad for health. Then why don’t you hunt something for me? Am I just going to watch the prey drooling because of an empty promise?
Are you trying to starve me to death?
The thought alone made Waite livid.
If it weren’t for the fact that the man in front of him was somewhat old, he would have wanted to punch him.
Veblen was scared pale.
Waite’s words.
Completely stumped him.
He had no strength to counter.
Security.
Without solution to either having or not having, what security to discuss.
Seeing that his words.
Had already touched Veblen’s heart, Waite sighed and patted his shoulder, saying, "Veblen, you’re getting older. You should consider Retirement."
Upon hearing this,
Veblen was so frightened that he almost lost his soul.
This was the rhythm of firing him.
"I’m very healthy and can continue to serve the people of Congo-Kinshasa."
Waite shook his head and said, "But do they like your services? Do they need them? Go outside, ask them, and then ask yourself if you think you are fit for the job."
"I...I..."
"Now, we need the power of private enterprise. We need foreign capital. We’re so far behind, if we want to keep up with the world’s pace, we don’t have a choice, do you understand?"
Waite let out a long sigh.
Veblen opened his mouth, knowing that Waite had made his decision. His Retirement was inevitable. Saying anything more was useless. Finally, he just said, "I understand."
He suddenly saw Waite’s point of view.
As long as it could make this country better.
Nothing else mattered.
He, Veblen, and the electric company he managed, were unimportant. He had lost Waite’s trust or, perhaps, had never had it because he was promoted by Mo Yi from the previous administration.
"I understand, and I accept your arrangement," Veblen said.
"Mhm."
Waite nodded.
Veblen walked out.
As he closed the door,
Veblen heard Waite sighing again.
