§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Power what proposals he has to examine the economic advantages of controlling the importation of liquid methane limiting the production of gas from oil, and increasing the gas supply through the gasification of low grade coal.
§ Mr. Freeson:The relative economics of different methods of meeting the demand for gas have been studied in the recent review of fuel policy. The gas industry is giving assistance to the coal industry by using more coal in place of the oil feedstocks it would otherwise use in its existing plant. The case for extending the gasification of low grade coal by the Lurgi process has been reviewed 628W on a number of occasions and even before the advent of North Sea gas there was no economic justification for building more plants. Imported liquefied natural gas, which can be stored, provides a valuable means of meeting peak winter demands.