OIL FROM COAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 92, 19 April 1930, Page 6 (Supplement)

OIL FROM COAL

IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN TESTS NEW ZEALAND INTEREST SYDNEY, March 20. The Australian coal industry will receive a tremendous lift, and imports ot foreign oil will be unnecessary if a process lor the extraction of oil from coal, experiments for which are now being conducted, is perfected. The o-i sougnt is of the kind suited for internal combustion engines. Anything tha t wouiu help even in the slightest degree the coal industry is of tiiu greatest national importance, for the very existence of coal mining is threatened at the present time, and if the millions that now go to a foreign cu...< try for oil cun be retained in the Commonwealth, so much the better. The experiments Iron. which so much is hoped aro being made by a small company t Synthetic Oil Product.-, but behind that concern is Impel.. Chemical Industries of Australia an-l New Zealand Ltd., which i a brane.i of Imperial Chemicals, Ltd. liupc.ial Chemicals Ltd., is one of world’s greatest, most progressive, aim most powerfully financial amalgamations. The authorised share capital amounts to £73,000,000. Australian coal is being used for the tests whivn are being conducted in Eng.and aim have been in progress for nearly two years. Highly skilled experts are working upon the different grades of coal, considerable shipments of which have been made from Victoria and New South Wales.

The stage which the scientists have reached in their experiments is not known, but it is understood that sufficient advance has been made to encourage hopes o_ ultimate success. The aim of the experts is to develop a method of distillation which will make the product commercially profitable at a low rental price; It is difficult to calculate the advantages to Australia and New Zealand of the discovery of a satisfactory process. The expansion of the coal industry alone would mean millions of pounds to the Commonwealth, and it is clear that the Domini< n would benefit by the production of a reasonably chei. oil so close vO its own shores.

xVegotiations have been proceeding between the Federal Government and the company, but the nature of these have not been divulged. It is known, however, that the Government would be prepared to give the concern very assistance. The reports that have been made to the Government concerning the progress of the experiments arc said to have been very encouraging.