600 TONS FROM AIR

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1932, Page 6

600 TONS FROM AIR

NITROGEN MAKING IN BRITAIN A £20,000,000 FACTORY. WELLINGTON, July 27. Six hundred tons of nitrogen can he obtined each day from the air at the tamo us factory controlled by Imperial chemical Industries at billingham, This in turn produces 2000' tons cf artificial fertiliser—ammonium sulphate. ilie history of Britain’s great nitrogen plant was referred to yesterday by Ur W. J. Worboys, of Imperial Chemical lndustiies, who reached Wellington in the Monowai from San Francisco, rle is paying his first visit to New Zealand, and is to -be stationed permanently in Australia. The nitrogen plant, Dr Wolboys told ‘‘The Dominion,” was first established ,iy the British Government because of the pressing need for nitrogen ni the manufacture of explosives during the Great War. Later it was taken over by the firm of Brunner Mond, who first made ammonia at Billingham on Christmas Day, 1923.

Six years ago the Imperial Chemical Industries combine was formed by the amalgamation of four great firms, including Brunner Mlond, and) in. 1927-23 the present plant was installed. More than £20,000,000 had been spent at Billingham. 'Since the combine had come into existence it had absorbed many firms of varying size. “It is adding to and building up a structure that is very sound and truly Imperial,” said Dr Worboys. “Our interests in this part of the world are looked after by Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand,” he continued. “We have no manufacturing 'industries in New Zealand, but that does not say tjiat we will not have them in the future.”

Though trade in fertilisers was slifter ing from the depression, high hopes were pinned- on the Ottawa Conference. In the opinion of Dr Worboys, there were great opportunities throughout the Empire for the extended use of artificial • fertilisers which had proved themselves conclusively. Within the past three years nitrogen products had been tested successfully on the Canadian prairies and, even at the present price of wheat, their use had been profitable. ; “Many countries,” he concluded, “are realising the advantages from % strategic point of view in having nitrogen factories of their own in order to ensure , a sufficiency of the product in time for war. Even China has considered the need for assured supplies.