§ 3. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Secretary for Mines if he is in a position to say whether any of the processes of coal carbonisation have yet reached the commercial stage; and what is the estimated total quantity of coal at present being carbonised per day in this country and in Germany, respectively?
§ Commodore KINGI presume the lion. Member refers to the so-called low temperature carbonisation of bituminous coal and not to the gas and coke oven industries, which have been in commercial operation for many years and are carbonising over 35 million tons of coal per annum in this country. Various types of low temperature carbonisation plants on a commercial scale, with a total capacity of, roughly, 1,000 tons a day, are now in existence in this country, though they are not all working steadily. Many statements have been made in the Press and elsewhere to the effect that additional plants on various systems are in process of erection or shortly to be erected. These point to a substantial increase in the figure I have given in the near future, but I am unable to give any estimate of the probable extent of this increase. With regard to Germany, it was stated at the recent World Power Conference that only one plant for the carbonisation of bituminous coal was now working in that country. This plant is understood to have a capacity of about 65 tons a day.
§ Mr. WELLOCKIf the experiments that are being made by experts in the processes of low temperature carbonisation have not been brought to a commercial level, can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether these experiments are being investigated with a view to getting the processes established?
§ Commodore KINGThe best indication surely is the carrying on of a commercial scheme.