§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what research has been undertaken on the gasification of coal; and what he assesses is the cost per therm using present technology.
§ Mr. EadieDecline in research during the 1960s was due primarily to competition from gas made from oil and the subsequent discovery of natural gas. Interest in coal gasification has revived recently, the United States of America taking the lead in research and development aimed at making a substitute natural gas and low Btu fuel gas from coal. The main effort in this country is devoted to contracts placed by American agencies with the British Gas Corporation and the National Coal Board aimed at substitute natural gas, but the NCB recently started work on gasification under an ECSC contract.
The processes under development promise to improve upon the works cost of gas-making with established technology which with current coal prices lies in the 140W range 8p to 11 p per therm depending upon the scale of operation and the properties and purity of the finished gas.