In fact, the synthetic ammonia plant is situated adjacent to the refinery, separated only by a wall. It primarily utilizes the waste gas produced by the refinery, which serves as one of the key raw materials for synthetic ammonia production. Additionally, the associated natural gas, which is only produced during the extraction of crude oil, is also employed as a raw material. This strategic placement of synthetic ammonia plants next to refineries was a well-considered decision during their construction.
Upon receiving the news that Crown Prince Edel had made his way to the ammonia plant, a group of plant management personnel led by Plant Director Velosev hurried to the entrance to greet the royal visitor. "Your Royal Highness, welcome," Director Velosev exclaimed as he led his team to meet the prince.
Crown Prince Edel stepped out of his vehicle and recognized Director Velosev, who had previously studied at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany's premier chemical engineering university. Velosev had achieved notable academic success there and had subsequently been appointed as the deputy technical director at the Fokssani Chemical Plant, which was established with German financial assistance. During his tenure, he had made significant efforts to enhance the utilization of potash at the plant, a fact that had not escaped Edel's notice. This led to Velosev's appointment as the director of the synthetic ammonia plant.
"Let's go inside and take a look," Edel suggested to Director Velosev.
The world's first synthetic ammonia plant, constructed in Germany the previous October, had a daily production capacity of 30 tons of ammonia. The Romanian plant, however, was twice the size and required the import of specialized equipment from Germany capable of withstanding pressures up to 200 atmospheres. These were made from a special low-carbon steel, which had delayed the plant's completion.
"Your Royal Highness, this is our raw material compressor," Director Velosev explained as he pointed to the equipment. "Here, a small amount of natural gas is compressed to 4MPA, mixed with a bit of synthesis gas, and then heated in the hydrogenation reactor."
Prince Edel listened intently, his expression one of fascination. Although he had long forgotten the specifics of the chemical processes, he was well aware of the significant impact that synthetic ammonia production had on the development of the chemical industry and, by extension, on increasing Romania's agricultural output.
As they walked through the plant, Director Velosev continued to explain various components of the process, including the reformer, the high-temperature converter, and the carbon dioxide absorption tower. Edel made a concerted effort to appear deeply engaged, nodding and listening carefully despite the barrage of technical jargon.
Finally, they reached the ammonia synthesis tower, the last stop on the tour. Here, Edel observed workers transporting pressure-resistant steel cylinders filled with liquid ammonia. He was pleased with the operations; his efforts in promoting this project were evidently paying off.
"How much ammonia is currently produced each day?" Edel inquired, keen on understanding the plant's output.
"Your Royal Highness, as we have only just commenced production, we are currently achieving a daily output of 42 tons. However, give us four months, and I assure you, we will reach the designed capacity," Director Velosev confidently replied.
"Director Velosev, you will need to recruit more workers," Edel advised after hearing the director's assurance. "We have more than one synthetic ammonia plant, and the current output is insufficient to meet Romania's needs. You must train more workers for the synthetic ammonia industry. I predict that within three years, we will need to increase our capacity tenfold to adequately meet domestic demand."
Director Velosev was visibly excited by the prince's projection. With Ploiesti's rich oil and natural gas resources, he was confident that a significant portion of the new production capacity would be developed under his oversight, potentially earning him the nickname 'Romania's chemical godfather.'
"Your Highness, please rest assured, I will ensure that our current employees are well-trained and will recruit new workers promptly. I will not allow any new facility to operate without skilled workers and proper management," Velosev promised.
Seeing the director's enthusiastic response, Edel decided to share some of his thoughts on the potential applications of ammonia. "Director Velosev, we shouldn't limit ourselves to just synthesizing ammonia. We should also explore its applications further. Perhaps improving the reaction process with other chemicals, like carbon dioxide, could yield better fertilizers."
After discussing his thoughts on chemical processes, Edel politely declined Director Velosev's invitation to lunch at the plant. He had another important meeting to attend with the current Mayor of Ploiesti, Dorell.
Mayor Dorell had succeeded Karaturi after his transfer to Bucharest and had proven to be a capable administrator. Under his leadership, Ploiesti had grown from the fifth-largest city in Romania, with a population of 187,648, to the third-largest, now home to 275,611 residents. This growth was a testament to the ongoing industrialization in Romania, with Ploiesti's thriving petrochemical and machinery manufacturing industries playing a significant role. Moreover, the city's per capita annual income had increased from 698 lei to 884 lei, a 26% rise, placing it among the top four counties and cities in Romania in terms of income growth.
Edel appreciated such capable officials; they made his governance easier and more effective. The selection and training of Romanian officials had improved significantly under his influence, drawing from his past life's memories where civil service exams and systematic training in administrative schools had greatly benefited governance.
Now, Romania was adopting similar measures. The government had introduced an assessment system for officials that considered local GDP and per capita income and had started civil service examinations the previous year to attract ambitious young people to government roles. While these newcomers were still low in the hierarchy and their impact was not yet visible, Edel was confident that they would eventually replace the old guard. He also planned to establish an administration college the following year to further enhance the training of government officials, which would improve the government's execution capabilities and help integrate territories acquired after World War I more seamlessly into Romania.
"His Royal Highness has arrived at the city hall," a guard reported, interrupting Edel's thoughts.
Acknowledging the guard, Edel stepped out of the car. "I have seen your Highness," Mayor Dorell greeted him, accompanied by key city officials.
Edel waved to the officials and then followed Mayor Dorell into the city hall. "Welcome your Highness to Ploiesti," the mayor said.
"I am very pleased with Ploiesti's development. In just four years, your population has increased by nearly 100,000, and your per capita income has risen by a quarter. These achievements are undoubtedly the result of your hard work. I thank you all and hope for even greater progress in the future," Edel expressed his appreciation.
The officials beamed with pride at the prince's commendation. They felt reassured by his support and were motivated to avoid any major mistakes to continue their positive trajectory.
"Of course, we will not forget those who have made meritorious contributions," Edel continued, pulling out a Royal Knight's Medal from his pocket. "Mayor Dorell, this medal is to recognize your contributions."
The sudden presentation of the Royal Knight's Medal caused a stir among the other officials, who looked on with envy. The medal was not just a token of recognition; it was a symbol of the prince's favor, which could significantly influence a career.
"This medal is too prestigious, and I fear my current contributions do not yet warrant such an honor," Mayor Dorell humbly responded, aware of the implications of accepting such a high accolade.
Edel, however, insisted. "It is important that everyone knows that the country appreciates those who have dedicated themselves to its service. You must accept it."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your graciousness. I will continue to work diligently to make Ploiesti even more prosperous," Mayor Dorell accepted the medal, realizing that to refuse would imply dissatisfaction with the royal family—a misunderstanding he could ill afford.
Edel then pinned the medal on Mayor Dorell's chest and patted his shoulder encouragingly. "Continue to work hard and contribute to Romania's future, helping to bridge regional disparities."
The gesture of a young prince in his twenties encouraging a nearly forty-year-old mayor did not seem out of place to anyone present. After the ceremony, Edel took the time to meet with each city hall official, who each expressed their gratitude to the prince.
Through these interactions, it was clear that Edel's prestige in Romania was high, a status earned through the significant economic and military advancements the country had seen under his leadership in recent years. His role in the Second Balkan War, which had cemented Romania's position as a leader in the region, was particularly noteworthy. These achievements were closely associated with Edel, who was now seen as the key figure in Romania's ascent.
During his inspection of the machinery factory, he was informed about the significant contribution their diesel engines and tractors were making to Romania. He commended Portosriku, the director of the factory, for his competence. Sodaval, who was the son-in-law of the factory director and also the director of the workshop establishment, received the honor of participating in the welcoming committee for the crown prince. However, as a mere director of a small workshop, Sodaval wasn't in a position to converse directly with the crown prince. He could only stand at the end of the line, observing the crown prince, who was surprisingly close to his own age, from a distance.
Later, Edel proceeded to the oil refineries and extraction sites to assess the current state of Romanian oil production and refining. In a bid to bolster the private sector, he also visited several privately owned supporting factories. After completing his assessment of the Wang enterprises, Edel delved into the local community to gauge the current income levels of the residents and inspected the conditions of local farmers to enhance his image as a leader connected to his people. This thorough inspection in Ploiesti spanned six days. It was only interrupted when Edel received a telegram from Hoffman announcing the development of a new armored vehicle, prompting him to leave Ploiesti by car to head to Constanta.
Aboard the train to Constanta, Edel reflected on the numerous times he had visited Romania's largest port city, a stark contrast to the less frequented Ploiesti. Upon arrival, he made a beeline for Volkswagen's test track where he was presented with a strikingly unconventional armored vehicle, bristling with rivets and exuding a punk aesthetic. Puzzled, Edel inquired, "This is the armored vehicle you developed?"
The trio responsible for the vehicle's development seemed momentarily disoriented by the crown prince's question. Herk, taking the lead, stepped forward and confirmed, "Yes, Your Highness." Noticing Edel's skeptical gaze, he elaborated, "We constructed this vehicle strictly according to the specifications provided in the drawings. The major deviation was substituting rivets for welding, which we believe is currently more suitable for military-grade products."
Edel turned to Major Hoffman, seeking an explanation with a questioning look. Hoffman, slightly nervous under the prince's scrutiny, explained, "Your Highness, the designs you provided were carefully considered. However, two of the models were prohibitively expensive to produce with current technology and were thus deemed impractical."
He then presented sketches of the sdkfz221 and sdkfz234 wheeled armored vehicles that Edel had designed. "The use of welding on these models would significantly increase costs compared to using rivets," Hoffman added. He then pulled out sketches of a Type 92 Japanese armored vehicle and the M8 armored vehicle. "This current model is based on the chassis we have, but to manage costs, I adapted the turret from the M8 design and merged it with the body from the Type 92."
Edel, realizing the hybrid nature of the vehicle before him—a blend of his M8 and Type 92 sketches—acknowledged that his initial designs might have been too ambitious. Considering these were models widely used during World War II, he understood the potential cost implications for the Romanian army. "It seems I set my expectations too high. Your modifications are sensible. Let's proceed as you suggest," Edel conceded.
He then inquired about the specifics of the armored vehicle. It was explained that the vehicle could withstand various small arms fire, including the Maxim gun and other large-caliber machine guns used globally. However, its vulnerability to artillery was a significant drawback; even indirect hits could immobilize it by creating craters that trapped the vehicle. This limitation made the vehicle unsuitable for offensive operations against entrenched positions and more suited for defensive roles where good road conditions could be leveraged.
Concerned about the vehicle's limitations, Edel asked, "Given these issues, do you have any proposals for improvement?"
Major Hoffman suggested, "Currently, this type of armored vehicle is best used in small-scale or urban defensive engagements."
Edel, thinking strategically, proposed, "Have you considered swapping the wheels for tracks to enhance terrain adaptability?"
Hoffman admitted having considered this but was concerned about the reduced speed and increased maintenance challenges associated with tracked vehicles. "Tracks would certainly improve off-road capability but at a significant cost to speed and maintenance ease," he explained.
Edel, however, saw these as surmountable challenges. "The slower speed of tracked vehicles is relative; they would still be faster than infantry and could navigate more challenging terrains, providing crucial mobile firepower and protection for frontline troops. As for maintenance, we could simply allocate more resources to manage it."
Inspired by Edel's perspective, Hoffman agreed to explore the feasibility of tracked vehicles more thoroughly. Meanwhile, Edel suggested acquiring a few of the current models to gain operational experience and develop tactical doctrines around their use.
After concluding his discussions with Hoffman, Edel thanked the three technicians for their dedication, taking particular interest in Wang Chaoqiang due to his distinctively Eastern features. During their conversation, Edel made a point to inquire about Wang's background, showing a genuine interest in his heritage.
This inspection and series of meetings not only informed Edel about the current state of military technology development but also strengthened his resolve to ensure the Romanian armed forces were well-equipped and adaptable to the changing dynamics of warfare.