PETROL FROM COAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22064, 21 September 1933, Page 9

PETROL FROM COAL

PRODUCTION IN BRITAIN

PROPOSALS DISCUSSED

(British Official Wlieless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

RUGBY, September 19. (Received Sept. 20, at 5.5 p.m.) In connection with proposals for the production of petrol and heavy fuel oil from British coal, a scheme for the erection of ten low temperature carbonisation plants and one hydrogenation plant, at a total cost of £7,000,000, was considered by the industrial development council of South Wales at a meeting at Cardiff yesterday. It is estimated that the hydrogenation plant would produce 100.000 tons of petrol annually from about 364,000 tons of coal, providing permanent employment for about 15,000 men for one year. Ten low temperature carbonisation plants would treat 3,650,000 tons of coal annually, producing about 240.000 tons of heavy oil, 140,000 tons of light oil, 70,000 tons of petrol, 3,220,000,000 cubic feet of surplus gas, and 3,520,000 tons of smokeless fuel. These plants would provide permanent employment for 4000 miners ' and 1400' progress workers and temporary work for 1200 men for one year. The projects were fully discussed and the scheme was ultimately referred to the committee already appointed to investigate the question, with power to add technicians and commercial representatives to their number and to report to a further meeting of the council.