New Zealand Urged To Set Up Carbide Industry

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28051, 20 August 1956, Page 14

New Zealand Urged To Set Up Carbide Industry

’The Pres?” Special Service

DUNEDIN, August 19. New Zealand could profitably engage in an expanding calcium carbide industry, supplying the home market and exporting to Australia, said Dr. T. Hagyard. senior lecturer in chemical engineering at Canterbury University College, in an address to a mining and quarrying conference in Dunedin.

His research led him to believe that the South Island had all the requirements for the establishment of such an industry, he said.

The West Coast would be particularly suitable for the industry, according to other scientists at the conference.

The purpose of Dr. Hagyard s address was to present the prospects of this particular industry because almost any organic product can be made from acetylene. Products that were commercially attractive could be chosen from the long list of possibilities, he said.

Canada, the United States. Germany. France, and other countries had all established profitable industries based on carbide production, said Dr. Hagyard. All but Germany based their calcium carbide industries on cheap and abundant electric power. In this respect, the potential of the South Island was considerable. “Carbide can be made economically, however, only if power is available at a sufficiently low cost,” said Dr. Hagyard. Comparing figures with enterprises in Canada and the United States, he said New Zealand was at no disadvantage in this respect. On his calculations, production costs would be at the same level as in the United States, and considerably lower than State hydro-electric costs if the plant generated its own power. Comparing the amount of carbide produced in six overseas countries with the populations of those countries Dr. Hagyard calculated that an annual ’production of 10,000 tons would be a desirable target. Some of the products—not all of them necessarily economic to produce—which could be made would be acetylene carbon black; polyvinyl chloride for hose pipe, sheeting, leather cloth, and plastic foam; and other chemicals for use in plastic paints, adhesives, concrete con-

ditioners, flooring lacquers, fertilisers, and a score of other items in regular use. Australia, said Dr. Hagyard, was manufacturing only two-thirds of her annual carbide requirements of 30,000 tons. New Zealand imported 1700 tons a year. Imports of calcium cyanamide for fertiliser were 1000 tons a year, and hundreds of tons of polyvinyl chloride were required for industrial use. Availability of Materials “The cost of carbide depends mainly on costs for power, limestone, and coke. The first two raw materials are available in abundance, though coke is not,” said Dr. Hagyard. After discussing the respective merits of depending on gasworks coke and making coke on the spot. Dr. Hagyard quoted figures to indicate that production costs would be almost £l9 a ton for the production of 2500 tons, with the cost decreasing to less than £l5 a ton for 10,000 tons. “The present cost of inferior-grade South African carbide is £42 a ton. landed in New Zealand.” he said. “The price is expected to rise this year to £46, and may reach £53 for bettergrade Canadian carbide. Home production would undoubtedly be considerably cheaper.” Claiming that circumstances were peculiarly favourable to rapid expansion in New Zealand. Dr. Hagyard said products valued at £609,000 a year could be produced from 6500 tons of coal. 9400 tons of limestone. 3000 tons of salt, and 350 tons of air for nitrogen