Capítulo 55: Strategic Oil Reserves and the Empire's Future
"Mr. Moritz, there is one thing that I think I must tell you in advance. That is, the large amount of crude oil we reserve is not entirely for our consumption. A large part of it needs to be reserved for the government," Oscar said, his expression serious.
"Reserve for the government?" Moritz asked, his brow furrowed. Germany's oil consumption was not high at the moment, so there seemed to be little reason for the government to stockpile such large amounts of oil. After all, constructing oil storage facilities and purchasing crude oil required a significant amount of money.
"Mr. Moritz, what I am about to tell you involves military secrets of the empire. I trust you will keep this information confidential," Oscar continued, his tone grave.
"I swear, Your Highness, on the name of God, I will keep it a secret!" Moritz said, his voice sincere.
Oscar nodded, then leaned forward. "The capital ships being built by the Imperial Navy, as well as many future warships, rely on oil-fired boilers. Therefore, the Imperial Navy's demand for oil will increase dramatically. But, as you know, Germany is a country that suffers from a severe oil shortage. We must stockpile oil before the war, or if conflict arises and our maritime trade routes are severed, we will be unable to get oil from overseas. The consequences will be dire. The capital ships, which cost us fortunes, will become useless scrap, unable to leave port and engage in battle. Hence, we must prepare and store enough oil before war breaks out."
Moritz listened in shock, realizing the importance of the reserve oil. He had not expected this reason behind Oscar's request. Of course, he understood that this was a military secret, and Oscar's decision to trust him with this information made him feel honored. He had only recently joined Oscar's team, but now he felt an even deeper commitment to his cause.
"Your Highness, I assure you, I will guard this secret with my life," Moritz said.
Oscar nodded, his expression softening. "I am glad to hear that, Moritz. Though the government and the navy will also be secretly stockpiling oil, we must ensure that we have enough reserves. Two million tons of crude oil is the bare minimum. If possible, we must store more."
"Yes, Your Highness," Moritz agreed, although he knew that storing such a vast amount of oil would be costly. Thankfully, Oscar's business ventures had been extraordinarily successful, with the Deutsche Welfare Lottery Company generating immense wealth, ensuring that there were sufficient funds for such projects.
Moritz couldn't help but calculate the cost. With oil prices at a historic low, a barrel of oil was priced at less than one dollar—roughly four marks due to the exchange rate. At this price, storing two million tons of oil would only cost about 60 million marks. The cost was high, but not unattainable.
"Mr. Moritz, we must also have the ability to extract oil ourselves. You will need to prepare the necessary technical reserves and recruit the relevant personnel," Oscar added.
"Yes, Your Highness," Moritz replied.
Germany had little oil of its own. While some coastal areas in the north contained small reserves, the technology to extract it was limited, and the amount was insufficient for large-scale consumption. It was more practical to leave these reserves untapped for now.
"Do you believe we should look into overseas oil fields?" Moritz asked cautiously. He understood that Germany was lacking in oil resources, and Oscar's request to develop oil extraction capabilities likely meant they would need to secure foreign oil.
The largest oil producers at the time were the United States, which accounted for 60% of global oil production, followed by Russia's Baku region, Romania, and the British-controlled territories in the Middle East, particularly Iran. However, large-scale drilling in these regions was still a few years away.
"Although most overseas oil fields are controlled by nations like Britain, France, and the United States, there may still be opportunities for us. We must be prepared. If the opportunity arises, we should seize it," Oscar said, his mind already working through the possibilities. He knew that the Middle East was rich in oil, but to secure those resources, Germany would first need to defeat Britain in the upcoming war.
Moritz nodded in agreement, understanding Oscar's strategic foresight. "Yes, Your Highness. We will prepare accordingly."
As Moritz left the room, Oscar's gaze shifted to the map hanging on the wall. His thoughts lingered on the resource-rich regions of the world, particularly the Middle East. If Germany could secure control over the Middle East's vast oil reserves after defeating Britain, it would solve the empire's energy issues for generations.
But for now, securing those resources would require more than just preparation. It would require military victory.
"The oil in the Middle East must remain out of reach for now. Our best chance lies elsewhere," Oscar mused.
"Libya is another possibility. It is rich in oil, yet largely undiscovered. If Italy takes control of it, we could still negotiate for exploration and mining rights once the war is over. That could provide us with the strategic advantage we need."
Libya was currently under Ottoman control, but Italy had its eyes set on the territory. Oscar knew that Italy would soon launch an attack on Libya. Though Italy's military was weak and the Ottoman Empire in decline, the Italians were likely to succeed in capturing the land. If Germany supported Italy in this endeavor, they could later secure oil rights in Libya after the conflict, without much resistance.
Oscar leaned back in his chair, considering the future carefully. The path to securing oil resources was clear, but the journey to power would be filled with challenges.
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