§ Mr. T. Fraserasked the Minister of Power how many gas-making plants are now in production making gas from a feedstock other than coal; and how many more, of what total capacity, which are expected to come into operation during the next five years, have been envisaged in the proposals made to him by the gas industry.
§ Mr. ErrollSixty-three plants to make gas from feedstocks other than coal were in service or being commissioned on 1st April, 1964, with a total capacity of 615 million cubic feet per day. The proposals contained in the gas industry's current programmes of capital development envisage the addition by 1st April, 1969, of a further 75 such plants with a total capacity of about 2,400 million cubic feet per day.
§ Mr. T. Fraserasked the Minister of Power what annual tonnage of coal has been displaced as a result of the gas industry's policy of switching to feedstocks other than coal; and what estimate he has made of the annual displacement in five years time.
§ Mr. ErrollIn each of the past five years the gas industry used about 22 million tons of coal: the greater use of other feedstocks for gas-making has therefore not yet led to any significant displacement of coal. It is estimated that the use of coal for gas-making will have declined to 14 million tons in 1968–69.
§ Mr. T. Fraserasked the Minister of Power what is the average cost per useful therm of gas produced from light oil distillates and by conventional coal carbonisation methods, respectively.
§ Mr. ErrollThe cost of making gas by conventional carbonisation varies156W widely, but the average cost at a number of representative plants is 11½d. a therm. This includes an average of just over 1d. a therm for capital charges on existing plant; on rebuilt plant capital charges would be at least 2d. a therm, and on new plant about 5d. a therm. Estimated costs of production for light distillate reforming plant now on order lie between 7d. and 8½d. a therm, including capital charges.
§ Mr. T. Fraserasked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the average price per ton at which coal would require to be made available to the gas industry in order to produce gas at prices competitive with gas produced from light oil distillates.
§ Mr. ErrollSuch an estimate could only be made in relation to a particular project. Some of the factors on which it would depend are the relative capital and operating costs of the plant, the load factors at which they are to operate and the prices that can be realised for coke and other by-products. Gas pressure, purity and toxicity would also have to be considered.