Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, MONDAY, SEPT. 11, 1933. PETROL FROM THE MINES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18190, 11 September 1933, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, MONDAY, SEPT. 11, 1933. PETROL FROM THE MINES

Sir Frederick Hopkins’ statement in his presidential address before the British Association last week that civilisation hag no reason to fear the reign of the machine may bo illustrated by reciting what is about to happen with regard to the hydrogenation of coal. Science has ever been the helpmate and the developer of industry, and the processes and machinery which science is providing to develop the languishing coal industry of Britain constitute one of the big factors, in the recovery of prosperity by the Homeland. The announcement recently made in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister has been rightly described as one of the most encouraging events since the war. It presages the establishment of a great new industry, which will not only free Britain from dependence upon foreign sources of supply, but will give new life to the mines, more hope to the miners, and the effective utilisation of the one great source of power that the United Kingdom possesses. II for no other reason than that the home production of oil is almost an’ essential in national defence the experiment, upon which the Government, in conjunction with a groat commercial enterprise, has determined to embark Would bo more than justified. As the result of successful experiments in tne production of hydro-carbon mixtures from bituminous coal, the Government has decided to give- a ten years’ guarantee to assist in the production of petrol from coal, and Imperial Chemicals, Ltd., consequently have authorised the erection of a largo commercial plant at Billinghain to utilise up to 1000 tons of coni a day and to produce an output of 100,000 tons a year of first-grade petrol. The construction of this plant, to take about a year and a half, will give employment to about 12,000 persons. When the plant is in operation tho Government will grant a preferential bonus of 4d a gallon, which it is calculated will bn sufficient to enable the industry to succeed against the fiercest foreign competition. Stripped of technicalities, there is much in hydrogenation to interest the layman. It was a German professor, Dr. Bcrgius, who first saw that solid coal could only obtain its maximum use when fluidified. More than 20 years ago ho began to wonder about coal and oil— r Whether tho chemical affinity between them, despite the difference in their external affinity, might not enable strange mutations to be brought about. Both coal and oil are composed mainly of the same elements mingled in different proportions. Oil contains more hydrogen; coal loss. Then by a saturating addition might it not bo possible to change cruelo coal into motor spirit or info heavier oils? Tu tho faith of that vision, writes Mr. Garvin, Dr. Rergins labored for years, despito difficulties besotting every inventor, and at last proved feasible that conversion of coal into oil which seems likely to provide for the coming world onn of tho powerful miracles of applied science. Imperial Chemicals, under tho genius and foresight of the late Lord Mel diet t, has spent in the last few years over £1,000,000 in investigation of Dr. Bcrgius’ discovery and has operated a small plant, with success. It is now going lo create at a cost, of £4,000,000 equipment for largo scale production. It, is estimated that petrol will be produced at a cost, of 7d per gallon, so that with tho 4d per gallon preference, foreign competition should be adequately met, and Britain mado independent to a large extent of overseas .supplies. To produce 100,000 tons, or 30,000,000 gallons, of motor .spirit a year, as is aimed v at, will require 370,000 tons of

coal, thus giving employment, to 1500 miners, whilst the works, themselves

will employ another 1000 men. Since Britain uses annually over one billion gallons of motor spirit, there is room for extension of the enterprise if it .succeeds, as its promoters confidently believe it, will. Thus employment. could be found for 82,500 men, of whom 49,500 would be miners. Nor need the project, stop at motor spirit. The hydrogenation plant is of extreme flexibility, and temperature and pressure can be adjusted for making the heavier oils as well as motor spirit. Suffice to say that the announcement of the commencement of this new- enterprise means that Great Britain is about to enter the oil producing countries. It is, as Mr. Garvin says, a big and far-reaching adventure. How far-reaching it is difficult, to visualise. New Zealand has coal measures which might be utilised in the same way it’* the present prospecting for largo scale production does not come to fruition. .Australia, also. The, Empire can bo made selfsupporting and saved from the noeessity of sending abroad enormous sums for the purchase of requisites to its industrial and social life.