Chapter 26 The Three-Year Industrial Plan
Australia being known as a country sitting on a mining cart is no exaggeration. Although many of the major mineral deposits it would later become famous for have yet to be discovered, based on currently proven mineral resources, Australia is already a country rich in minerals.
As for iron ore and coal—resources essential for industrial development—several sites have already been discovered in the uninhabited western regions of Australia. Their total reserves have reached 360 million tons and 1.9 billion tons, respectively.
These figures may seem impressive at first glance, but compared to the 15 billion tons of iron ore and 900 billion tons of coal proven in Australia in later generations, they are just a fraction of a fraction.
Still, when compared to other countries of the current era, Australia's already proven mineral resources are quite substantial.
Even based on the current steel production of the British Empire, Australia's iron ore reserves would be enough to sustain British consumption for thirteen years.
While the British Empire's steel output won't remain the same forever, for Australia to catch up to Britain's steel production would still take several years—if not a full decade.
This means that even if Australia pushes industrial development at full speed, there's no danger of running short on mineral resources within the next ten years.
After all, as a major mineral-rich nation, what Australia may lack at any given time are funds, equipment, and skilled labor—not the abundant minerals that lie nearly everywhere.
"Minister Pierre, tell me more about your plan," Arthur said with some interest. Pierre Silvio Berlusconi's proposal was in line with what Arthur had in mind.
"Your Highness, our uninhabited western regions contain vast mineral resources, particularly coal and iron, which are crucial for industrial growth. I propose that we first build a large-scale industrial production base in the west. Using the equipment Your Highness has provided, we will increase our steel production to at least 100,000 to 200,000 tons within three years. Meanwhile, using the steel we produce, we can lay railway lines between the western industrial zone and our cities, establishing a transportation network. After three years, once our steel production enters a new stage, we can then pursue technological industries."
Seeing Arthur's interest, Minister Pierre raised his voice in enthusiasm.
"So, Minister Pierre, your plan is to focus on increasing steel output first and put everything else on hold for now?" Arthur asked with a smile.
Increasing steel production might be difficult for other underdeveloped nations, but for Australia, it was relatively easy.
Australia held industrial equipment from Britain worth fifty million pounds—carefully selected by Arthur—including basic machinery like steelmaking furnaces.
The benefit of this was that Australia could quickly master the use of this equipment. Once fully integrated and effectively used, these tools could propel Australia into the world's top twenty industrial nations.
"No, Your Highness. My proposal is that we prioritize the development of basic industries, especially steel plants. This does not mean we should abandon other industrial development in the short term. I believe Australia's ultimate industrial goal is to develop a self-researching and self-manufacturing system—an independent industrial circle. That includes technological industries such as munitions and shipbuilding. Our end goal is to achieve independent R&D and production capabilities. Therefore, while we develop our basic industry, we also need to bring in talent on a large scale from Europe to fill the talent gap caused by our educational shortcomings. From an industrial perspective, developing industry and attracting talent must proceed simultaneously," Pierre said.
Compared to other developing nations, Australia had a huge advantage.
Because of racial similarities and its geographic distance from Europe, Australia had few major conflicts with any European country, making it easier to attract advanced technology and skilled personnel from all over the continent.
What Minister Pierre was essentially saying was that future Australia must have the capability to independently develop advanced technologies and equipment rather than always relying on imports from Europe.
This meant that unless Australia could attract large numbers of experts from Europe, independent R&D would remain an empty dream.
Arthur nodded. Minister Pierre, once a talent sent from the British Empire to Australia, was indeed quite capable.
If importing equipment and developing basic industries was about building the present, then attracting talent and enhancing R&D capacity was about planning for the future.
For any great power seeking to rise or dominate a region, independent technological development was essential.
If a country could only rely on imports for its advanced industrial goods, then no matter how many cutting-edge weapons it brings in to bolster its strength, it would always be at the mercy of others—and could never truly be considered powerful.
"Minister Pierre, what is our current steel production?" Arthur asked.
It must be said that the colonial era was when the gap between Western nations and the rest of the world was at its widest.
At a time when Western countries were producing steel in the millions or even tens of millions of tons, a certain island nation—destined to rise to great power status through reform—had steel production of just over a thousand tons.
Australia's situation was slightly better, but only just. Due to the abundance of iron and coal, Britain had already built a few small steel plants in Australia.
"Your Highness, last year the combined annual steel output of the six states was around 3,700 tons, with pig iron production at 5,000 tons," Pierre responded without hesitation.
These figures were the real data he had gathered over the past week, and he had memorized them well, knowing they would likely be needed.
"I'll give you three years. Each year, triple Australia's steel production. Can you do it?" Arthur asked with a smile, looking at the confident Minister Pierre.
Tripling output each year is no easy feat. The first year might be manageable, but by the second year the difficulty would increase exponentially.
Tripling 5,000 tons of pig iron results in 15,000 tons. Tripling that gives 45,000 tons.
By the final year, tripling 45,000 tons brings the total to nearly 140,000 tons, with total steel production reaching around 250,000 tons.
"No problem, Your Highness! As long as you provide sufficient funding and equipment, I guarantee I can triple the steel output every year for the next three years," Minister Pierre replied without hesitation, full of determination.
(End of Chapter)
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