The UK only wants to use southern Africa as a source of raw materials and a dumping ground for its products. It really has no intention of developing the industry in southern Africa. The largest iron ore mine in southern Africa is not in the Limpopo River, but in the Session area and the north of the Cape.
In the west of the Transvaal, the iron ore in the Transvaal has not been discovered yet. Even if it was discovered, no one would be interested because the gold mine in the Transvaal is too attractive.
The iron ore in the Session area can only be mined and sold to British steel companies. The British government has never thought of setting up a steel company in the Session area for on-site processing, even if the cost of transporting the iron ore is high
Higher.
Therefore, the Fawalt Steel Plant is the first serious steel company in southern Africa and even the entire Africa. This significance cannot be overemphasized.
Of course, it is good for Southern Africa, but it may not be good for the British mainland. The establishment of the Fawalt Steel Plant marks that Southern Africa is further reducing its dependence on the British mainland. In other words, the British mainland is
The influence of Southern Africa is getting weaker and weaker, so Ade and Philip have a tacit agreement not to mention this matter and only focus on the steel plant itself.
"We can only produce ordinary steel now, but we have our own R&D department. In the future, we will also get involved in the special steel industry and produce special steel with higher value. Our Transvaal is still very rich in mineral resources, not only
Gold mines can produce gold." Henry is like a mining magnate, and he is very clear-cut when it comes to development plans.
Southern Africa is rich in mineral resources, especially solid mineral resources.
Almost all the minerals that have been discovered in the world are stored in South Africa, and the reserves of many of these mineral deposits are among the highest in the world.
South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum and gold. In addition to gold, South Africa also has the world's largest chromium ore and manganese ore, with mineral deposits accounting for more than half of the world's reserves respectively.
More than 80% of the world's manganese ore reserves are distributed in Transvaal (north of the Vaal River, within the Transvaal). In addition to manganese ore, there are also rich copper ores, asbestos, coal mines, iron ores, platinum, chromium, diamonds,
The eastern part of the Transvaal has the largest coal mine in Africa, and the western part, in addition to producing platinum group metals, is also an important source of marble and fluorspar.
Southern Africa has many world-class large-scale mineral deposits, such as gold and uranium deposits in the Witwatersrand Basin, iron, manganese, and asbestos deposits in the Transvaal Basin, and platinum, nickel, chromium, and magnetic deposits in the Bushveld Complex.
Iron ore, vanadium, tin, fluorite deposits, Palabora complex copper, apatite, vermiculite, magnetite deposits, and diamond deposits are all world-famous super-large deposits.
It can be said that even without the gold mines in the Transvaal, the Transvaal would still have the opportunity to develop industry with its rich mineral deposits. However, the gold mines cover up the value of other mineral deposits, resulting in people only being willing to develop gold mines and other mineral deposits.
But no one paid attention.
Rock would definitely not be so short-sighted, so Christian established a resource exploration company under Rock's instruction a long time ago.
Now the resource exploration company under Christian's name is very powerful, employing more than 100 professional exploration personnel. Many of the manganese mines, coal mines, iron ores, etc. in the Transvaal have been purchased by Christian Resource Exploration Company. It can be said that only
If we need an opportunity, a powerful mining group is just about to emerge.
"Very good, very good. We can't be satisfied with providing the primary stage of raw materials. By carrying out primary processing of raw materials, we can get higher profits and there will be no conflict with our local steel companies. You can try to cooperate with Kru
If you can purchase the patent license, it will be very good to produce special steel." Ade still does not want to conflict with local steel companies. The demand for special steel in the UK is huge. If the Fawalt Steel Plant can produce
Special steel products are also a good supplement to the British steel companies.
No matter how much special steel is produced, it is not enough, such as marine steel. The UK has the largest and most powerful shipbuilding industry in the world, but the best marine steel in the world is produced by Krupp, so the British
Steel companies can only purchase the patent license for marine steel from Krupp, but the marine steel produced still cannot meet the needs of British shipyards, so they still need to purchase large quantities of marine steel from Krupp every year.
If the Wafalt Steel Plant can produce ship steel, no matter whether the British steel companies will object to the Wafalt Steel Plant selling steel to the British mainland, at least the British shipyards will welcome it.
"We have already contacted, but Krupp will not grant us the patent authorization-" Henry's expression was a little sad, but he quickly adjusted: "But we also contacted Carnegie in the United States, and Carnegie promised to grant us the patent.
We are still discussing authorization, and the specific results may take some time."
Krupp and Carnegie are the most famous steel companies in the world. In view of the relationship between Germany and the United Kingdom, it is normal for Krupp not to authorize the Wafalt Steel Plant.
Carnegie in the United States does not have this concern. American companies can sell products if they can directly sell them. If they cannot sell products, they can sell services. Patent licensing is also a type of service. As long as the Wafalt Steel Plant provides
The price is high enough, and Americans can sell God to the Wafalt Steel Plant.
"Carnegie - that's not bad." Ade was also a little disappointed, but Ade didn't understand the situation, so he didn't say much.
While Henry and Ade were communicating, Roque and Phillip were also idle.
Unlike Adelaide's lofty views, Philip's focus is more realistic.
"Are there other mineral resources around Johannesburg?" Philip was driven crazy by money during this period. In order to get more money, Philip had reached the point of using any means.
The damage caused by the plague to Johannesburg was still huge. A large part of Johannesburg's tax revenue had to be used to help Pretoria and Orange pay off their debts. Philip also wanted to develop Johannesburg. The tax revenue from the gold mine was really not enough.
Use.
Don't be surprised, it's really "point".
Although everyone knows that the gold mines in Johannesburg are very profitable, there are gold owners behind the gold mines in Johannesburg. Those gold owners are hugely powerful, and some people even Ade and Philip cannot afford to offend. Therefore, the tax revenue from the gold mines has always been maintained.
A relatively low level, which makes it seem that Johannesburg is very rich. In fact, the money has nothing to do with the city government, so Philip wants to open it up.
"Yes, there are quite a few. There are manganese mines, coal mines, and iron mines, but it is a bit difficult to develop. Technology and management are part of it, and manpower is another part." Luo Ke explained the facts and reasoned. There are mines underground, and they must be able to dig them out.
That’s it.
"Isn't the hydropower station already built?" Philip had the idea of a hydropower station.
At its peak, there were more than 20,000 workers on the Crocodow Reservoir construction site. Now that the hydropower station has been built and can provide electricity to Johannesburg, more than 20,000 people have become a surplus labor force, which can be used to develop the mines around Johannesburg. p>
"The workers have withdrawn from Crocodile Bay Reservoir in batches. Some went to Pretoria to develop farms, and some went to Nyasaland. Cecil also asked me for help, but I didn't have anyone to give him.
." Roque will definitely not let the Chinese go mining. The living environment of miners these days is still very harsh. Just look at the mines near the Wafalt Steel Plant.
Iron ore mines, coal mines, etc. are different from gold mines. Compared with iron ore and coal mines, gold mines are relatively profitable, so mine owners don’t feel bad about using part of their profits to improve the living conditions of workers. The gold mines in the Transvaal,
Nowadays, the living environment of workers is generally pretty good.
Forget about iron ore and coal mines. Until the 21st century, iron ore and coal mines were the hardest hit areas by mining accidents. In 1902, the situation would only get worse.
As far as Rock knows, the iron ore and coal mines near the Wafalt Steel Plant have just started operating less than a month ago, and there have been no less than five mining accidents, with the number of casualties each time being around dozens.
That is to say, there is no supervisory department in this era, and no one is in charge of the iron ore and coal mines near the Wafalt Steel Plant. If this is known to the outside world, the Wafalt Steel Plant will immediately be pushed to the forefront, and no one knows that it is going to cause trouble.
What's going on?
Hearing Roque's straightforward refusal, Phillip stopped talking and looked at Roque with disdain.
Unable to withstand the contempt from his father-in-law, Rock rubbed his nose and tried to help him think of a solution: "I'll think of a solution later. It's not easy to hire people from Zululand now. Those Zulu people are slowly becoming smarter.
Those who are willing to come out to work have basically left Zululand now, and those who are unwilling to come out to work cannot be invited even if they are invited."
Developing industry is really a good idea that kills two birds with one stone. There are some reasons that cannot be explained in too much detail. Philip must know it.
However, Philip's attitude is different from Roque's on this issue. Roque wants to reduce the number of Africans in southern Africa as much as possible, but Philip is thinking about sustainable development on this issue, so Philip's words are very shocking: "
When you hire Zulu people, you should not exploit them too hard. Nothing is achieved overnight, and economic development must take place slowly. Some time ago, a South African company built a railway. I heard that 900 people died in one kilometer of railway. This is outrageous.
, if this rate continues, all the Zulu people will be dead within a few years. Where will we find enough labor then? Will you let the Chinese build the railway?"
"There are not that many, it's all just rumors, it's not that serious." Rock couldn't laugh or cry, that's not the case at all. Of course there are some dead people, but not that many.
Of course, Rock actually doesn’t know the actual situation. It may not be as serious as the rumors, or it may be more serious than the rumors. Now there is no evidence for this matter.
