§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he can give an assessment of new export opportunities for British coal utilisation and processing technologies.
§ Mr. EadieThe assessment of new export opportunities for coal utilisation and process technologies is no part of the responsibilities of the Department of Energy. It is a matter primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade, and for the process plant manufacturers and contractors themselves.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Energy what up-to-date information he has on any intensive international market survey for commercial development overseas for coal processing technology.
§ Mr. EadieThe National Coal Board has set up, in conjunction with Woodall Duckham Ltd., a joint enterprise called " Coal Processing Consultants Ltd.," whose specific aim is to provide independent advice throughout the world on coal processing technology leading to large-scale commercial development.
In the early stages of setting up this consultancy—late 1975—CPC has carried out surveys of world markets and developments in order to identify the areas where its services are most likely to be needed and where British coal processing expertise can be exploited.
In the course of the survey consultancy contracts have been successfully completed in the United States and Mexico. Further contracts are pending in Canada, Colombia, the United States and Brazil. 824W In addition, the NCB has international collaboration agreements with many countries with similar aims embracing both coal production and processing.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Energy what forecasts involve a study of coal by-products as a substitute for oil refinery feedstocks and advice on coke oven gas for power generation.
§ Mr. EadieThe long-term prospects for coal by-products as a substitute for oil refinery feedstock are recognised by the Department, but there are so many uncertainties that no such specific role for coal is included in our current forecasting exercises. Coke oven gas is already used in the steel and other industries as a fuel for steam raising, furnace heating, and power generation. It finds use for industrial purposes wherever the commercial factors are favourable.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many inquiries his Department has received from countries to cover a wide range of coal conversion and utilisation techniques, coal gasification and liquefaction.
§ Mr. EadieSuch inquiries are passed to the appropriate nationalised industry for attention; the number is not recorded.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is now in a position to make a statement on assisting developing countries to use coal efficiently, as well as setting up their own carbonising plants, and advise on sophisticated processes for making new products from coal.
§ Mr. EadieAssistance to developing countries is no part of the responsibilities of the Department of Energy. However, the National Coal Board and the British Gas Corporation exercise their considerable expertise in coal utilisation through consultancy interests, which operate on a world-wide basis.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are his estimates for the use of coal for electricity generation in 1976; what would be the coal equivalent figures for each of the other main sources of energy, namely, oil, gas, and nuclear power in 1976; and what is his estimate of consumption for each of the four main 825W energy sources in each of the succeeding years up to and including 1980.
§ Mr. EadieOn the basis of figures so far available, it is estimated that approximately the following amounts of fuel will be used in power stations in the United Kingdom in 1976:
- Coal about 76 m tons
- Oil about 16 mtce
- Gas about 2.5 mtce
- Nuclear about 12 mtce
- Hydro about 2 mtce
Forecasts of fuel consumption are subject to much uncertainty, but for 1980 it is anticipated that total fossil fuel burn will be much the same as in 1976 and that nuclear and hydro will be in the range 20–25 mtce.