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New Zealand Listener, Volume 22, Issue 555, 10 February 1950, Page 9

Ie SHELL' NEWS COLUMN Since the war the task of 'estoring the huge output of petroleum Pro- ducts from the East Indies has been attacked vigorously by clie Shell organisation; and production; now meeting an increased demand; has risen rapidly_ During the Kar; Pro: duction for vital war Purpcses was mainta ned uncil the Japanese were wichin striking distance AlI installa: tions were then systematically des- troyed_ Thus delayed in the t efiorts c0 get oil; che Japanese advahce was interrupted, giving the allies 4 vital breaching space After re-occupacion, che process 01 rebuilding presented a gigantic task: Skill labour had vanished while sceel supplies were limited by the world- shortage. 2 million tons were requir- ed, an impossible figure t0 obtain in che time limic set. However, in the face of the diff cult- ies, Shell has achieved remarkable progress_ Where installations have been damaged by Japanese neglect emergency plants have been installed Distilling units were constructed entirely from scrap and recovered materials_ Emerzency storage tanks steam and electric power unics Pipelines, housing and educational facilities for training skilled workers have developed alongside_ Not until 947 were che oil fields accessible in Sumatra, bur within 2 month, despite the devastation and neglect, the supply of oil to the re" fineries was renewed. By the end of 1947 , production had reached i00,000 metric tons per month Production in Java has been delayed by political disturbances; but since December 1948, when the installations became available; production has been swifcly renewed This remarkable progress by Shell in che face of seemingly insuperable difficulcies is gradually meeting the demand which is 350 higher_ Petroleum production is vital to the economy of the Orient, and Shell is doing ics utmost [O speed its rehabilitation. E19.9 Another in the Series THE SHELL COMPANY OF NZ: LTD: (Incorporated in England)