HC Deb 12 March 1980 vol 980 cc561-2W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will compare the coal liquefaction programmes in the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Mr. John Moore

Development of coal liquefaction in West Germany is built upon World War II experience and is entering design and feasibility studies for a full scale plant. The Federal Government recently announced plans for a £3,300 million programme to build commercial plant in West Germany funded jointly by industry and Government. In the United Kingdom, our oil and gas reserves give a different dimension and time scale to the need to produce oil from coal, and the Government are supporting design studies on two pilot plants embodying NCB technology to convert 25 tons/day of coal to liquid products.

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