Investor That Can See The Future

Chapter 350

British economist David Ricardo argued for comparative advantage. The theory is that when one country trades in a product that has a comparative advantage over another, the interests of both countries increase.

However, there are problems with this theory. That is, the speed of technology integration varies greatly from product to product.

Semiconductor capacity increases exponentially, but no matter how advanced agricultural technology is, banana production increases arithmetically. As the years go by, countries that export semiconductors become advantageous, while countries that export bananas become disadvantaged.

The United States and Russia are resource-rich countries with abundant oil and gas. Nevertheless, it is making a name for itself as a nuclear power plant and continues to build nuclear power plants in its own country. Is this just for nuclear weapons?

As in the previous story, thermal power and nuclear power have different rates of technology integration. Since thermal power generation only burns fossil fuels such as coal or gas, there are obvious limitations when the technology develops in the future.

However, nuclear power has evolved over the generations. If a traveling wave reactor is commercialized, it is possible to increase the power generation efficiency by several orders of magnitude. As waste fuel rods from light and heavy water reactors can be recycled, the fuel cost is virtually zero.

In the past, there was a time when OPEC controlled the world economy with oil resources as a weapon. The two oil shocks caused by OPEC wrecked the world economy, but that is now impossible.

“In the past few decades, technology has advanced remarkably in all fields, and world-class companies have been born in developed and emerging countries. But the countries that sold oil are still selling only oil. Russia’s Gazprom is still a global company. But how long will that be?”

A resource-dependent economy will be hit hard when resource prices fall or resources are depleted. In fact, since the shale revolution in the United States, oil and natural gas prices have continued to decline. In addition, the supply of electric vehicles and the amount of renewable energy generation are rapidly expanding.

“Energy hegemony is already shifting the other way. If it stays like this, Russia will gradually fall behind on the world stage.”

President Vysotsky leaned back and crossed his arms.

“If the development of a traveling wave reactor is necessary, it is enough for Russia to invest on its own.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter what you do. The technology to build a traveling wave reactor is not unique to Russia.”

This is bluffing.

Because the foreknowledge I saw was that Professor Perroff succeeded in the experiment. But the other party is unaware of this fact.

“Then why did you come to Russia without visiting there first?”

“The first is because I sympathized with Professor Petrov’s vision.”

“The second?”

“With this cooperation as an opportunity, we are thinking of advancing into Russia.”

OTK Company has companies with the best technology in other fields, even if they do not have the technology for nuclear power plants.

“I would like to cooperate with Russia in various fields starting with the traveling wave reactor project.”

In other words, without the cooperation of the traveling wave reactor project, there is no other cooperation.

“Aren’t there any guarantees that an experiment will ever succeed?”

“There is nothing to lose if you fail. But there will be a lot to gain along the way.”

Anyway, I pay And the fact that I invested can greatly promote Russian nuclear technology.

For Russia, it is a business that has nothing to lose.

President Vysotsky’s official fortune is only (?) tens of millions of dollars. But in reality, there are rumors that it will be more than 200 billion dollars.

Naturally, it was not the wealth he had accumulated through hard saving of his salaries for civil servants, but a solid part in the process of privatizing state-owned enterprises and eradicating oligarchs.

It is an open secret that he has shares in Gazprom and Rosatom under the car name. If he succeeds in developing a traveling wave reactor, his assets will also greatly increase.

So holding hands with me is good for Russia and for him. So you’re probably interested in it.

President Vysotsky continued to scan my expression with cold eyes.

“Do you think Russia needs help?”

“Isn’t it true that we are suffering from sanctions?”

His expression hardened at those words.

“Russia is not funny enough to succumb to Western sanctions.”

“I know.”

In fact, sanctions against Russia were completely different from sanctions against Iran or North Korea.

No country wants to antagonize a country that has nuclear weapons and ICBMs and has permanent membership.

There was a strong sense of intimidation in his eyes and expression. The person in front of me is the leader of Russia. And Russia is a hegemon on par with the United States and China.

He can move the huge country of Russia with one finger. That’s the power he has.

So, what is my power?

Of course it’s money. If it wasn’t for the money, I wouldn’t have been able to meet you in this place like this.

“But the ruble decline and job losses. And no one likes inflation.”

Max Weber explained the legitimacy of domination in three ways. However, the most important thing is the economy, no matter how they obtained dominance.

No matter how dictator he is, he can’t help but care about the economy. No, he should care more about the economy because he’s a rather dictator himself.

As the economy worsens, people’s dissatisfaction increases. Declining approval ratings will inevitably put a burden on long-term rule.

President Vysotsky looked at me with a firm expression, and I received those eyes as calmly as possible. Just making eye contact made me feel refreshed.

Somebody help me.

Thinking so, Taek-gyu, who had been quiet until now, said:

“All successful presidents are successful for similar reasons, but failed presidents fail for their own reasons.”

“… … .”

What are you talking about all of a sudden?

But at that moment, President Vysotsky burst into laughter.

“Pu ha ha ha!”

He laughed so loudly that the interpreter standing next to him was astonished.

After a while, he stopped laughing.

“Do you like Anna Karenina?”

A bewildered light flashed on Taek-gyu’s expression.

I could read those eyes.

‘Who is that?’

I had intense eyes.

‘It’s a book, it’s a book! It’s a book!’

It’s clear that this kid didn’t read the book and picked up those lines from an anime or something.

It seemed that he didn’t know what it was, but Taeckyu proudly nodded his head.

“of course. I like it very much. Who in the world doesn’t like Anna Catalina?”

“… … .”

It’s Karenina! Who the hell is Catalina?

Thinking it was a pronunciation problem, President Vysotsky did not notice. He nodded his head with a satisfied look.

“right. Anna Karenina is a perfect work of art. Anyone who doesn’t like it must say that they don’t know her life.”

Taek-gyu didn’t change his expression, but kept chirping.

“Yes. Anna Catalina is life, life is life, and Anna Catalonia is.”

“… … .”

What else is Catalonia? is this barcelona?

“You are a good friend.”

The atmosphere suddenly changed to a friendly atmosphere.

President Vysotsky asked kindly.

“Did you two have dinner?”

“I haven’t even had lunch yet.”

Because someone must have made an appointment for lunch, and then he himself came late.

“Haha, I’m sorry about this. We decided to leave the practical discussion to the people in charge, and why not have a drink of vodka while having a meal together?”

* * *

The fact that Kang Jin-hoo met President Victor Vysotsky at the Kremlin quickly spread around the world. Because she didn’t even need to get information, the Russian press continued to report it as the main news.

The next day, President Vysotsky and Kang Jin-hoo signed an MOU in front of a gathering of Russian and foreign correspondents.

The scene where the two sat next to each other, signed papers, and then shook hands was broadcast in media all over the world.

[To cooperate with OTK Company in the field of nuclear power in Russia][Jinhoo Kang, Meeting with Russian Businessmen][OTK Company decides to invest in traveling wave reactor experiment!][Traveling wave reactor is a next-generation nuclear power plant technology that has improved the problems of existing nuclear power plants… … .][Details are being discussed with Rosatom][What will the impact of Jinhoo’s investment on the nuclear power plant industry?]

There is a word called the OTK effect.

A word first used by a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter, it means that the company invested by OTK Company achieves great success and has a huge impact on the industry as a whole.

Therefore, you can make a profit by watching the investment of OTK Company and investing in related companies or industries. In fact, some investment companies have used this strategy.

As soon as OTK Company’s investment was decided, interest in the nuclear power plant industry and traveling wave reactors poured in.

Other companies did not stand still.

Megapower requested permission from the U.S. government to carry out experiments in the U.S., and Chinese and French nuclear power plant companies also announced that they would develop their own technology or form a consortium.

The sparks also bounced off Korea. Controversy arose over the government’s nuclear phase-out policy.

* * *

OTK Company’s working team and Golden Gate entered into negotiations with the Russian Ministry of Energy and Rosatom.

Rosatom created a subsidiary, Rosatom TWR, for the development and commercialization of traveling wave reactors, and OTK Company invested $1 billion in it and received a 36 percent stake. In addition, it was decided to continuously invest funds separately for additional experiments in the future.

In other countries, administrative procedures such as site acquisition and environmental evaluation and suppression of protests from residents would take more than a year. But Russia was just a breeze.

The TWR development plan was abandoned just before the experimental phase. The infrastructure of the site had already been completed. Even though a formal contract had not yet been signed, the construction of a nuclear reactor for testing began right on the site. Residents protest… … Officially, it was considered nonexistent.

I stayed at the hotel and watched the news. The reaction was different.

Russia welcomed it and attributed everything to President Vysotsky’s efforts, saying that it had paid off. The United States is closely monitoring the situation, and the EU has expressed concerns about sanctions erosion.(Read more @ wuxiax.com)

Hyun-joo’s older sister continued to keep in touch with the Russian branch and spearheaded negotiations, and Eli handled legal matters with Russian legal experts.

I received a call from Chairman Im Jin-yong.

[You have already advanced to Russia.]

“How did it happen?”

[It is good that the market expands, but the political atmosphere is not serious. It is evident that they do not like the Blue House or the ruling party.]

“I am watching the news.”

Environmental groups opposed to nuclear power rose at once, and the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a brawl, and the National Assembly went into a coma again.

Still, I’ll get my paycheck little by little.

I met Professor Petrov.

He is the head of this experiment. He looked exhausted from being called here and there by the government and Rosa Thom officials.

Still, his face was bright.

“Thanks to that, we can do the TWR experiment. I didn’t know if you were really going to invest.”

“The future is up to the professor.”

“Haha, I’ll do my best.”

Professor Petrov said as if recalling.

“As I said before, my father made nuclear weapons. Some of them were dismantled and used as fuel for nuclear power plants, but some are still stored at military bases. He always said that no matter what, the weapon should not be used.”

During the Cold War, scientists from the United States and the Soviet Union built various weapons, including nuclear weapons and missiles, according to government orders. But none of them would have wished that the weapons they had built would cost thousands of lives.

“My father thought that having more nuclear weapons in the Soviet Union would prevent war.”

I wonder what this means, but it’s true.

The development of nuclear weapons made Mutually Assured Destruction possible, which was the biggest reason for avoiding all-out war between great powers. And the Cold War ended naturally without a single shot.

“Another reason is that I thought that the skills I had acquired while developing nuclear weapons would definitely be helpful. You said that one day, when peace comes, nuclear weapons will be useless, and then the technology created to kill people will be used for the benefit of mankind.”

“Indeed, it was with such a heart that he created the concept of a fast breeder reactor.”

Professor Petrov looked at us and said.

“A traveling wave reactor has been my father’s long-standing dream. I want to make that dream come true.”

I nodded.

“It certainly will be.”