PETROL FROM COAL

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 155, 28 December 1935, Page 17

PETROL FROM COAL

The .first plant in the world for the hydrogenation of bituminous coal, the imperial Chemical Industries 1' plant at Bilhngham-pn-Tees. was opened in' October. By this process coW is con, verted ultimately into petrol (gasoline) with-no by-products, 60 per cent. by Weight of the clean coal processed being turned into high-quality motor spirit. When in full production, the plant will make 45,000,000 imperial gallons (54,000,000 United States-gallons) of petrol a year. The extra coal which will be consumed at the Billingham factory will amount to 600,000 tons a year, representing the employment of nearly 2000 miners, while over 1000 men will be directly employed on th» plant itself, and a further 1000 men on additional. factory services in connection with it. . ' Speaking, at the opening, ceremony, the chairman of the company, Sir Harry McGowan, said:, "We confidently believe that it represents only a beginning. We are not'depressed by the.thought that its output is only 4 per. ceni. of the country's consumption'of motor Spirit:?.;We do not forget that 'tall oaks;from;kittle acorns grow.'" ■_ ':-■[■-'■■ .'";.'':.V'.;vVvv "■'■■'■ ' : The great Britishv-'bil;: distribution companies are undertaking the distribution of this coaX petrol, while for some.years. Sir HarryVMcGovvan explained, their ■interests-in" the hydrogenation process had.jbe^n Pooled with the German 1.G., the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey,- and the Shell group.