We are considering the possibility of introducing high-yield fish populations to the lakes to augment the indigenous species. What about the effect of these enterprises on the ecology of the lake itself?
Daniel asked diffidently. Particularly the construction of the marinas and yacht harbours and the introduction of exotic species such as carp and Asian shrimp to the lake waters. Green smiled like a second-hand car salesman. These are at present being fully investigated by a team of experts. We expect their report to be ready by the middle of the year.
However, we do not anticipate any problems in that area. Quite right, Daniel thought. They aren't going to make waves if my new and good friend Tug is hiring and firing.
Sidney Green swept forward, still smiling, to discuss the agricultural potential. In the low-lying wooded savannah that covers the eastern half of the country the tsetse fly, glossina morsitans, closes a great deal of prime country to cattle-ranching. At the earliest opportunity we, in cooperation with the Ubomo government, will undertake a programme of aerial spraying to eradicate this insect menace. Once this is done, beef production will be of great importance to the economy. Aerial spraying?
Daniel asked. What chemicals will be used? I am pleased to say that BOSS has acquired several thousand tons of Selfrin at most favourable prices. Would the favourable price have anything to do with the fact that Selfrin has been banned in the continental United States and in the European Common Market countries? I assure you, Doctor Armstrong, Green smiled blandly, that the use of Selfrin has not been banned in Ubomo.
Oh, that's good.
Daniel nodded, and returned his smile. He had smelled Selfrin in the Okavango swamps and the Zambezi valley. He had seen the devastation of entire insect species and the birds and small mammals that fed upon them.
As long as it's legal, nobody can have any objection, can they?
Quite so, Doctor Armstrong. Sidney Green changed the display on the lecture screen. Those areas of the savannah that are unsuitable for cattlebreeding will be planted with cotton and sugar cane. Irrigation water will be pumped from the lakes.
The swamps and wetlands in the north will be drained, but these, of course, are long-term projects. Our immediate cash flow will be assured by logging operations in the timber-rich forests of the western mountain range. The 'Tall Trees','Daniel murmured. I beg your pardon?
No, nothing of importance. Please continue. I'm finding this fascinating.
Of course, the logging operation will be carried out in concert with the mining operations. Neither project on its own would be profitable, but carried out in unison each becomes highly lucrative. In fact the timber will cover the direct cost of the development and the mineral recovery will be almost entirely profit. However, I will leave George Anderson, our senior geologist, to explain all this to you. Anderson's expression was as stony as one of his geological samples. His style was terse and dry. The only viable mineral deposits so far discovered in Ubomo lie in the north-western quadrant, below the forests that cover the lower northern slopes of the mountain range and lie within the basin of the Ubomo River. He moved the cursor on the map display in a slow northern sweep. This forest cover consists of almost fifty varieties of economically significant trees, amongst which are the African oak, the African mahogany, the African walnut, the red cedar and the silk-cotton tree. I will not weary you with their botanical names, but suffice it to say that their existence holds out major economic advantages, as my colleague has pointed out. He nodded wearily at Green, who flashed his bright salesman smile in return. The forest soils are for the most part leached laterites, the colour of which gives the Ubomo River its name, the Red River, and indeed the country itself, the Land of Red Earth.
Fortunately, these soils are very thin, generally less than fifty feet in depth, and below them lies a folded pre- Cambrian formation. He gave a dry and weary little smile. Again, I will not tax you with the technicalities, but these soils contain significant quantities of the rare earth, monazite, together with viable deposits of platinum almost evenly distributed in the upper levels. This series is unique. There is no other known formation that comprises this particular spectrum of minerals. Each of these individual minerals occurs in low concentrates, in some cases they are mere traces. Separately none of these would be PROFITable, BUT TAKen together they will be highly lucrative, and their profitability will be enhanced by the valuable stands of timber harvested in the process of exposing the ore body.
Excuse me, Mr.
Anderson, Daniel interrupted. Are you considering strip-mining the Ubomo river basin? George Anderson looked as though he had experienced a sudden stomach cramp.
Doctor Armstrong, the term 'strip-mining' is an emotionally charged one, filled with negative undertones. BOSS has never undertaken strip-mining operations anywhere in the world. I must be very firm on that issue. I beg your pardon, I thought that the company's copper mines at Quantra in Chile were strip-mines. Anderson looked affronted.
Open-cast mines, Doctor Armstrong, not strip-mines. Is there a difference?Of course there is. However, I think that this is neither the time nor the place to examine those differences. just let me say that the open-cast mines that we intend developing in Ubomo will take full account of the sensitive environment of the area.
We will operate on a refill-and-renew policy. BOSS has a green approach to nature. In fact, Doctor Armstrong, we are convinced that in the long term the environment will be significantly improved by what we are going to do for the country. He looked at Daniel challengingly, and Daniel almost rose to accept it. Then with an effort he forced himself to smile and nod. You must excuse me playing the devil's advocate, Mr. Anderson.
These are the kind of questions people will ask, and I must be able to answer them. That's what BOSS is paying me for. Anderson looked mollified. Yes, of course. However, I must reiterate. BOSS is a green company. It's Sir Peter's firm policy. I know he is even considering altering the company logo. As you know the present design is a miner's pickaxe and a ploughshare.
Well, he intends adding a green tree, to show our concern for nature.
I think that's very tasteful. Daniel smiled placatingly. He knew that this discussion would be reported to Tug Harrison, there was even a likelihood that at this moment it was being recorded. If he displayed open hostility and opposition to the company, his free ticket to Ubomo and his contact with the Lucky Dragon and Ning Cheng Gong would evaporate. With the assurances that you gentlemen have given me, I will be able to go to Ubomo with a clear conscience and I will endeavour to show the world the enormous benefits that will accrue to the country from the intensive development that the BOSS consortium is undertaking. He spoke for the benefit of the hidden microphones, and then paused for emphasis. Now, what I want from you is an architectural mock-up of the hotel and casino development on the lakeshore. I'd like to film the area as it is today, and then superimpose the concept over it, to bring out the best features of the design and how it blends into the natural background. Sidney Green will take care of that, I'm sure. Pickering nodded. Right, then I want details of the present per capita income of the average Ubomo citizen, and an estimate of what that income will be in, say, five or ten years time, after the full benefits of the development programme begin to make themselves felt.
