OIL FROM COAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 410, 20 December 1932, Page 7

OIL FROM COAL

ATTITUDE OF MINE-OWNERS. In his presidential address to the members of the Institute of Fuel at Home Sir Hugo Hii'st said: "Only a comparatively few years ago tlfe hydrogenation of coal was unknown. ' It was not the coal owners but the largest chemical firm in this country which spent a very large sum in developing a practical and commercial method of producing p'etrol from coal. A scheme has been submitted to the Government to erect a works to hydrogenate 1000 tons of coal a day and produce 620 tons of high-grade petrol. - This can be done for an all-in cost of 7d per gallon, and among the advantages of the scheme are much employment, national security ensured by a home supply of petrol in case of war, a better trade balance and, what most concerns the coal industry an entirely new market for coal. A few coal owners have examined the scheme and have become warm-hearted supporters, but the majority of them hardy know what hydrogenation means. If ever there was a scheme which the whole industry should support, is surely this one, but there is no central technical organisation to deal with it and to pronounce upon its merits. The 'extent to which our country, both for military and civil transport, is becoming dependent on imported fuel is a very serious matter, espeeially in view of the mechanisation of large units of the Army."