Mr. T. MORRISasked the Secretary for Mines what is the total amount of coal used at Billingham to produce, respectively, 100,000 tons of petrol from coal and 50,000 tons of petrol from creosote and low-temperature tar; and what is the amount of coal which would be used in both cases in an entirely new plant?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKAccording to information made available by Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, the overall raw coal consumption at Billingham for the production of 100,000 tons of petrol by the hydrogenation of coal is expected to be about 500,000 tons, and a further 100,000 tons would be used for the production of 50,000 tons of petrol by the hydrogenation of purchased creosote oil and tar. For a new plant is is estimated that the consumption of raw coal would vary from 3.5 to 4 tons per ton of petrol made by the hydrogenation of coal the actual figure depending upon both the ash and moisture content of the coal and its suitability for the process.