GAS SUPPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1927, Page 4

GAS SUPPLY

v YKW GERMAN Si 'I I EM’E I.oNG IMSTA.NCK tka.nsm ission. A sebeme for supplying gas l<< I he whole ol Germany from l lie Ruhr was decided on last November, and will be carried out by Ihe Aktiengesollselmft I’m- Kolileverwvrtung. a company with it,, headquarters in Ksmui. In .spite of mud. opposition from municipal aufb„i'n jes I lie preliminaries ol the .undertaking are now suficiontty advanced to permit of a review of tin* nature ami prohahle elfeets of the scheme.

Pipe lines will extend I'lom one ii'iinal eonilliii between llainhorn and Hamm in the Kiiln throughout the length and breadth" of Germany from Munich to Kiel, and from Aix to Breslau. The process e.i conversion from Hie preset,l local gas supply system will be gradual, and the Mill accomplishment of the project may lake l,ai years or more. Ihe sclieine .is ~f vast complexity, hut ii may brieffv outlined as follows: The several oakeries between lli'in- ! and Hamm will pump gas into ,be thief conduit. Power stations b.r long-distance I rniimuission will he installed lonethor with ap|iaratus lot purifying the gas and regulating its specific gravity and .alone strength. The chief transmission lines M" >" the

it i t- wi'l issue via l!reme:i Han, Imrg to Kiel: via Hanover. Brunswick v.,u\ Madg'hul'g to Borin, ; via. Pass'd and Ttirmgia to saxvia I he B’liii'daml to Hessen. Ihidi• u Wiirtemherg, and Bavaiia. U is intended that the line to Saxony ,ledl 1,0 additionally fed, chiefly h'i extension pm T oses. by the ena llii'lds of Ppper and bower Silesia and Saxop Tn addition to the thousands ol local supply hues, a network of subsidiary conduits linking up the mam routes is projected. ADVA STAG KM. The advantages claimed for longdistance gas transmission lie m creased economy, cleanliness, and elheienev. German gas consumption per head of tl:e inhabitants, averages ol) cubic metres OJol) cub. ft.) yearly. „ comparatively "low figure when rniiipured with. say. .he 178 cub. metres a ;o<M) cub. IT.) per head of population in Great Britain and Ireland I he vcarlv figures per head of population for Berlin and Hamburg, which are supplied from local gasworks, are re-sce-tivi'lv 1 -13 and lot) cub. metres. Barmen.' Solingeii. and Bemseheul. however, which are supplied by longdistance transmission iron; the minmg areas, use respectively gll.ant-

240 cubic metres per head of population. The difference in price between (okery and locally manufactured gas varies according to the size of towns and the purpose for which the gas is used. Generally speaking, it may ho said ihat long-distance gas is nearly always cheaper and never more expensive than municipal gas. .EXPERIENCE IN THE RUHR.

The enormous waste oi the present system of gas supply in Germany is exemplified by the following facts: — In 1925 tin- total amount of gas produced by German (local) ga- works was A.2 milliard cub. metres. lor which four million tons ot coke were, necessary. The total coke output ot the German mines in the same year was approximately 20.8 million tons, of which roughly- 23 million tons were produced in the Rhenish Westphalian urea. The pit r-oai used ill the manufacture of these 20.8 million tons of coke totalled 31.5 million tons, or inst about, one-quarter of Germany's pit coal production for the year. Ihe quantity of gas evolved as a hy-pio-duct during the process ot coke manufacture was from 10.5 Lo 11 milliard cubic metres a , onsiderablc part- of which was used bn- heating coke lur--1,.,,-ps and generators of power or for other industrial purposes, lor which a yen inferior gas would hale been equally suitable. Only a very small portion Go Hie Ruhr 300 million cub. metres) was supplied m municipalities by long-distance transmission. H will be seen from these figures whai enormous resources lor ihe supply of ir;'is await exploitation in the Ruin'.

SAYINGS EKE EI'TED. One of file duel' economics olfected by long-distance gas is the low cost of pipe transmission. 3he cost ot trail - mitting 75.009 cub. metres ol gas per boor over a distance of 199 kilometres (approximately the distance oi Berlin from the Ruhr'; works out at a yca-ly average of U. 99 pfenning per cubic met re. compared will, t .22 pfennings per kilogram freight, charge lot solid fuel. Long-distance gas transmission also effects other economics in euiinevtHill with coal-grading and other U" liniial muling lartors, into which th-ie is no need lo enter bore.

Among other advantages which the j projected power seiieme should hiing about is that it would be praelii a.ilv impossible fur the nation or any part of ii to be deprived of gas for beating or lighting purposes Enough local trade disputes. The A.I). fur Ivoiilcvlrwvrlung proposes if necessary to enlist tile aid ol the State in obtaining the rights nl way essential to the successful fulfilment of the power scheme. The undertaking will mu, however, be State controlled, the present intention being Him municipal gas works shall ei7-opera le with the A.G. lnr Kohlevcrwertung which is offering long-teim ngroemeiiis. covering period ol irom 20 to 30 years, assuring a regular supply of gas at fixed rates, and giving oilier guarantees. It is anticipated that, when t l:o Ktilu power scheme is complete, gas tor industrial purposes will have become so (-heap as to eliininaie ihe ti-e ol solid enmbus-. 1 1 hies ill factories and workshops GAd El'' V M. GGiKERIEE One <;7 the elfeets conferred on the Gerinaii mining industry by the Ruin power scheme will he the elimination of the present necessity of burning: British gas coal in northern towns such as Hamburg, where, owing to the cheapness ot sea eonipared witli rail Height, foreign imports sne.-ess-iully compete with Ruhr coal. In connection with the prcliminalieof ihe German long-distance gas power scheme, the town Bm hum is now to be supplied with gas by long-dis-tance i ransmis-ioii direct from the cokeries. The Bochum Municipality and lhe A.G. fur Kohleverwert ung are loiitiding a limited company. called the 80. hum - Eln enfeld Kernheizgeselle.schaft. for ihe purpose. Ihe gas will be derived from the Kriederika pit which liehmgs lo the Sto'l Trust. The Hot hum municipal theatre. several schools, and hotels, and a lew lattn!ies will he supplied with the longdistance gas immediately, and it is intended lo extend the supply later. The scheme is expected to "how n deficit, for the first year or so. alter which there should be profits.--' '‘ Tii»ii"" >> •-*$ «inil