OIL FROM COAL.

Evening Star, Issue 22451, 23 September 1936, Page 8

OIL FROM COAL.

The production of oil from coal by the hydrogenation process is a new avenue of coal utilisation to which the Mines Department of New Zealand has given some thought. At the moment a practical outcome of the investigations of the department is not in prospect, the most apparent reason being that, although the project is well worth keeping a progressive eye upon, current experiments give rise to the suspicion that the scheme is but another way of wasting coal and spending huge sums uneconomically on modern machinery. The department has found that, under the system at present followed in England, approximately 1,000,000 tons of coal a year would be required to supply the 60*000,000 gallons of motor spirit now being imported into the Dominion. The capital cost of tho plant is very heavy, a report from Australia stating that a plant to produce 45,000,000 gallons of motor spirit a year in the Commonwealth would cost from £8,000,000 to £10,000,000. It will be realised, therefore, that the production cost would bo greater than the existing cost of landing petrol, and that unless a beneficent Government came to the rescue the public would have to pay more for the commodity, a contingency which motorists, already aware that their cars cost enough to run, would not face with equanimity. Nevertheless, the time may come when science succeeds in placing the production of home-made petrol on a footing that will meet economic requirements. If ever a Government is justified in keeping a matter “ steadily in view,” it is in

this case. Accordingly, it is satisfactory to learn from the Mines Statement that the technical officers of the department are keeping themselves thoroughly apprised of all the latest developments. The production of coal from oil in Great Britain is at present concentrated at Billingham-on-Tees, where a massive plant, capable of a yearly output of petrol amounting to 150,000 tons, is in full operation. Of this total 100,000 tons is obtained from coal direct and 50,000 tons from low temperature tar and creosote oil. Billingham, it is declared, is only a beginning, for after experience has been gained other large plants will be- constructed elsewhere. An inkling of the possible importance of the industry is gained from the information that oil from British coal is already being supplied to the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. The first petrol pumps for supplying British petrol to motorists have also been erected. The exact amount of the yield has not been disclosed, but it has beeii stated that five tons of coal are consumed in the manufacture of one ton of petrol, this quantity of coal including the :iol used for producing power and hydrogen. It is small wonder, perhaps, that the prevailing methods have been criticised as uneconomical and as simply an acceleration of wastage, but it has to be borne in mind that the Billingham plant is not the last word in efficiency. It is claimed that before long improvements will be made that will permit a substantial reduction in the consumption of coal. Great Britain’s Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin) recently said: “My information is that the working is quite as successful as anyone could have anticipated. Information will soon be available as to the economics of the process. If the results are what wo hope for, then I think it will certainly be up to the Government to use every influence it can to see that similar plants are installed in parts of the country where they are perhaps more free from possible attacks in case of war.” An encouraging feature of the process is that the yield is larger than was originally expected, and that certain aspects of wastage are minimised through the uses found for the heavy residual oil. There are hopes, then, that we shall eventually see in New Zealand a plant that will satisfy those who consider that we should not embark on any undertaking that is not commercially practicable and economically sound.