OIL FROM BROWN COAL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19448, 23 October 1928, Page 10

OIL FROM BROWN COAL.

BIG WORKS PROPOSED. DEVELOPMENTS * IN VICTORIA. (HtOSI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.i SYDNEY, October 11. ■An ambitious scheme-f<sr the development of the brown coal and lime stone deposits of South Gippsland (Victoria) has just been disclosed. This announcer ment conies at a time when world scientists, gathered at Geneva, have praised the developments already made on the brown coalfields of Victoria. It is said that the Latrobe area in Victoria contains tho richest coal deposits m the world, while the resources disclosed by tfye Yallorn open cut, which is worked by the electricity commission of Victoria are said to be almost limitless. The whole world is even now watching what is taking plaoe in Victoria and the development of any further scheme is bound to be closely followed. The Victorian undertaking at Yallorn had tr\e distinct advantage of having commenced at the point which the German inr dustry reached after 30 years of practical experience and patient research. The commission was thus able to collect the most economical and efficient methods. In regard to the combustion of high-moisture brown coal the results achieved by Victoria have not been equalled any where' else in the world, and this success is mainly due to the researches of the commission's own staff. The new; company, which ( is about to commence operations in South Gippsland proposes to build up a large industry, step by step, until the capital outlay will be about £5,000,000. _ A start is to be made immediately with the' exploitation of the brown coal deposits. It' is, proposed to treat the coal by low temperature distillation for the I production of fuel oil and petrol. A representative of the company inspected large works in Halle, German, in which coal was similarly treated, and he was much impressed with the economic character of the scheme. It is felt certain that oil and petrol can be produced in Victoria in commercial quantities at prices that will enable successful competition with the . imported natural crude oils. The Gippsland product, it is promised, will be sold at the same price as' imported oils—and, perhaps, a little lower. When fully working the company will produce more than 100.000 tons of petrol and oil annually. The national importance of the development of tho brown coalfields cannot be over-emphasised in view of what is taking place in other countries, particularly Germany, United States, and Russia. The brown' coal deposits in these countries have become the k basis of many new industries In Germany the output of the brown coal mines exceeds 150,000,000 tons a year. Brown coal workings are the basis of all kinds of manufacturing, and make possible the economic life and development of Central Germany to-day. Germany has achieved the liquefacation of brown coal on a commercial scale, and one German company is producing 100,000 tons of synthetic petrol and will ultimately produce 200,000 tons. It is of great national importance to Australia to know that it is possible to manufacture synthetic petrol of high-class quality from brown coal. If oil is not found in Australia—and the prospects in this regard cannot be said to be very encouraging—then it will be essential to take the oil from coal and shale.