THE FUTURE OF COAL

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1930, Page 8

THE FUTURE OF COAL

Mr W. A.Vciteh, Minister of Mines, recently announced that the output of coal for tire Dominion in 1929 was

~,35,864 tons, nearly 100,000 tons more than in any previous year. Two main causes operated during last year io increase the demand for our own coal—the Australian coal dispute and the greater use of New Zealand coal on our railways. The Minister expressed the hope that when the Australian coal dispute was settled our gas companies would continue to use Deal coal. Jt is no unimportant consideration that the increased local outout for 1929 necessitated the employment of 121 more men. While it may l-e too much to expect that there shall he no falling off from last year’s record output the manner in which the world’s demand for coal has been maintained in spite of the serious competition of hvdro-electric power, and of oil as fuel, certainly merits attention. Not long ago English journals were stating that the age of coal was passing. King Coal was supposed to he dying, but he seems now to be having at least a vigorous and healthy old age. 1 is difficult at present to anticipate the probable 'future demand for coal, hut there are several clear indications that neither the use of coal nor the pro-

duction of power by coal-fired steam oiants can yet be regarded as becoming obsolete. The export of British coal

for 1929, though not back to the prewar figures showed a very satisfactory increase on the amount for the previous year; 50,051,000 tons for ■MV2S, and 00,260,000 for 1929, an increase of 10,215,00 tons. The world’s consumption of coal for 1928, although showing a slight decrease from 1927 was yet considerably in advance of hut for 1913.

It would appear from the figures given in the official Year Book that

the total consumption of coal in New Zealand has steadily increased during the last decade. Of the total consump-1 lion it is estimated that about 65 per ent. is used for industrial purposes. Vwtuivlly. the development of our hydro-electric schemes has given a number of our factories cheaper power than coal-fired steam plants can give; consequently there has been » reduction in the amount of coaJ r*>- ] quired for factories. In 1924 our fatories used 908,051 tons of coal; in 1928 they used 872,883 tons. l y et 1 1 rhe same time sonu expanding industries required a. increasing amount of coal. Dairy factories used more coal n 1928 than in 1924. Desite fluctuations the total consumption of coal in New Zealand still shows an increase. The competition between coal and oil fuel is leading to a much more scientific use of coal. It is now quite probable that pulverised coal will com pete with oil ns a means of firing engines both on land and sea. It is a less watsefuL.method of combustion and it as easily handled as oil. It is ! quite true that the increasing use of electricity for power, heat, and lighting will reduce the demand for coal, hut it is apparent that the harnessing of water power has not eliminated the use of coal to the extent that might have been expected. An increased supply of power tends to increase the J demand for it. The competition of j hvdi-o-eloctric power, too. has com- j polled the improvement of the steam engine. In some districts and for some purposes coal-fired steam plants are { more economical than large hydro- j electric installations

Tbe recent experience n.f Italy in •••••■r-tion with hvdro-electricitv is qufyrr/'stivp. Italy has n small local simply of coal and much of it is of inferior onality. Before tlie war it was necessary for lier to import 12,000.000 I ions of coal annually. mostly from Bri-t-’bi. To obtain cheaper power the '•ii-ers of tlie Alps lin'd Anpennines were i'O’-nessefl. Bot in winter the alpine dreams are icebound, and tlie flow is then not sufficient to turn tlie turbines. f n ibe Annennines tlie beavv flow is mi +fie .vinter; it censes in tlie dw s’ln-mer. Tliese conditions bare led a mernrer amoim- several bydro-elee-interests, and now tbe summer eim’ ii e surplus can be distributed 'lovnio-b tlie Apnenine lwinrs in their O’-i- seasons. Tn return tbe Annenbic n- surplus supplies tbe alpine di«-e.-;i,„+; no . system dipu’w tbe p-c-cu T>nt in snite of this "IT"™. ■ it "--f 1.000000 of -ai'bitions in tlm | ...P.l'.-M o n [] snowfa'l it bas 'e- T 1 found [ neeessnrv to Veep ip'Operation steam!

before the great hydro-electric develop-

ment. iiiese soon proved insufficient.. “New steam plants had to be construct'd to furnish the necessary reserve to the always increasing demand for power.” If the reserve plants cannot function upon demand the very industries which the hydro-electric development has made possible would suffer. This means more coal, and Italy is now importing more coal than before, the war, although she spent £80,000,000 on hydro-electric installations. Of course, the total supply of power is greatly increased. Another point in connection with the probable future demand for coal should be noted. In spile oi the many large hydro-electric schemes in operation in the United States, coal is still largely used there as fuel for steam plants. To-day a preference is being shown in the States 'for new steam plants both large and small in lieu of the undertaking of large new hydro-electric schemes.