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The Pipeline
Topic Started: Nov 21 2013, 05:04 PM (116 Views)
Alberto
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Resident Italian
Prague

Very recently Marsoil had terminated the works of perhaps the longest pipeline in the world : the Velikaya. Spanning from the oil fields at the south of Aghaba to the Marslavan-held harbour of Sinop in Anatolia, the Velikaya allowed the rapid transportation of the oil and the natural gaz extracted by Marsoil. The proportion of the work done had been awesome in terms of engineering, but also in terms of military effort, as the surroundings of the precious pipeline badly needed to be secured. However, the end of the works in the Middle East were only the beginning of Marsoil's economic expansion. Pressed by Russian, Porcuian, Kasnyan, Eastern Federal competition, the Marslavan giant had to find new venues of expansion.

Once it arrived to Sinop, the natural gaz was shipped to Costanta, on the European shores of the Black Sea. From these, the oil had to be transported by convoys to Marslava, or had to be shipped to Slovenia (now in the Federation) and then transported to Marslava. Besides, Marslavan prospectors had found that oil was extremely likely be found in the area around Ploiesti, a Valachian village. These considerations led to the next step of Marsoil's expansion.

Lord Pavel Kysilka, the noble governor of Marsoil, and one of Marslava's most influential men. For him, the joy of the achievement of Velikaya had soon left, to be replaced by the observation that more could be made. He had come to govern Marsoil with the ambition of turning it into one of the world's industrial giants. Luckily, in Prague, Lord Kysilka had found receptive ears. He sat with the Grand Duke, the Foreign Minister, Prince Von Koudenberg, and the Minister of Trade, the social-democrat Ladislas Boguslawski. Lord Kysilka exposed his plan meticolously and with method.

- Everything starts in Sinop – he said – the Aghaban oil and gaz is transported to the harbours of Trieste or of Rjeka by our tankers and then reaches Marslava. This is not an efficient process – The governor of Marsoil continued – the construction of a pipeline and a railway between Brno, or Prague, or Bratislava and Costanta would allow a more efficient process, as well as the linking up of the Valachian oil fields with Marslava. It would allow also Marsoil to bring its oil directly to the European market as well as monopolize the distribution of oil in the whole of Southern Eastern Europe. - Von Koudenberg assented and observed – the advantages for Marslava would be immense -. The Grand Duke did not talk for a while, but one could see from his look that Kysilka's idea was of his liking: while the Grand Duke had no expansionist or nationalist ambition, he did want Marslava to become the region's economic superpower. The fluid situation of the Balkans, and their huge unexploited potential offered immense opportunities.

The Grand Duke took a while to express his opinion. - While Marsoil has the capitals to cover the technical parts of this project, there are political hazards to this, and the state will have to step in to secure the terminals of the pipeline and provide a minimum of security to Marsoil's investments-. Boguslawski did however warn – While I agree, en principe, this is a risky endeavour and has the potential of bringing Marsoil to bankruptcy-.

Ploiesti

Ploiesti was a town in Valachia, 35 km off the regional capital of Bucharest. What distinguished Ploiesti from the other many towns of Valachia was the presence of a huge source of wealth. The prospectors from Marsoil had found sufficient evidence of deposits that could support a production of up to 14 millions tonnes per year ! The Romanians, a sincere and simple people devoted to agriculture, were, according to this evidence, sitting on an inestimable wealth. Marsoil was quick to follow up, sending a group of engineers, chemists and lawyers to negotiate a contract. Ploiesti had not seen so much movement for a while !

The local leaders, except few who warned against immense changes in the city, agreed to sign a contract with Marsoil. They proved, however, to be shrewd negotiations and extracted various concessions from Marsoil, such as the requirement to train and employ local staff and set up a tribunal on workplace disputes. Marsoil, facing the prospective of an extensive production and immense profits, eagerly accepted all these conditions. Now, the exploration and then the exploitation of the Ploiesti oil fields would start.
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Alberto
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Resident Italian
Finally Costanta was at sight. The attempts of Marsoil to bribe its was in Costanta had failed: the locals did not want to have anything to do with the pipeline. Yet, Costanta was necessary to Marsoil if the European extension of the Velikaya was going to be built. There, it became apparent that Marsoil had the power of the entire state behind this enterprise. From Sinop, a Marslavan fleet had sailed to the European shore of the Black Sea, the fleet transported two regiments which were tasked with occupying Costanta. The locals did not expect the arrival of the Marslavans, the locals could do little to prevent it. Without firing a shot, the Marslavan infantries landed in the small harbour. Only few shots were exchanged in the city's main quai between the occupiers and renegades of the old Roman army, but the noise subsided quickly and calm was restored. After the soldiers, landed also the engineers and those specialists which were needed to make some prelimnary work. Costanta had been occupied.

In Prague, in the headquarters of Marsoil, the leadership of the corporation had been presented a plan for the pipeline, the greater than any other built in Europe. The realization of this pipeline would be extremely complicated, long and expensive, yet it was worthy the risk if Marsoil was to become Europe's main energy corporation. Boguslawski, minister of trade, was there to confer with Lord Kysilka.
- You have seen the news - said the boss of Marsoil - Costanta is now in our hands -
- The most difficult starts now - said the minister - the pipeline will cost tenths of billions to both Marsoil and the state. We think that it is in the best interest of Marsoil to enter into a partnership to extend the Velikaya. -
- I had been assured that the state would cover its half of the costs - said Lord Kysilka, surprised.
- The government headed by our communist party - said Boguslawski - will not used the tenths billions it intends to invest in infrastructure and education to further the interests of Marsoil. For this the Parliament has voted to limit the state contribution to 15 billions slov. It is already a huge sum -
- But no way sufficient, we need ten more - said the director of Marsoil.
- For this reason Marsoil is encouraged to enter a partnership with another, reliable, company. The East German Federation may be the ideal candidate here. Only if Marsoil fails to find a convenient partnership, will the state step in to fill whatever has to be filled. But this may not necessarily be the best option for Marsoil -

Marsoil would have to look for partners. The Austrians would be contacted, but what if the conditions they posed were to be too honerous ? Who could join in this project without endangering Marslava's energy security ?
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