§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has made any estimate of the equivalent crude oil price at which the liquefaction of coal would be economic in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMy Department is contributing to studies under the auspices of the IEA on the economics of coal liquefaction. Present work suggests that crude oil prices would have to rise to around $70 per barrel before the liquefaction of United Kingdom coal became economic. The use of an advanced liquefaction process, such as that being developed by NCB, could perhaps reduce this figure by about $10 per barrel.