Oil-from-Coal Possibilities The announcement by the Minister for Mines that
a committee is to be appointed on the general question of oil from coal is very much to be welcomed. There have been many experiments with many processes in this field, and, it may be added, many disappointments. But enough has been achieved to make it clear that oil on a commercial scale can be produced. There are several concerns working on a com- mercial basis in this country today, notably Imperial Chemical Industries with their great plant at Billingham, the Low Temperature Carbonisation Company whose new plant at Bolsover was opened by the Duke of Kent this month, and the National Coke and Oil Company, whose separate units at Tipton and Erith are producing petrol, heavy oil and smokeless fuel with apparently complete success. There may well be room for all these and other processes, but it is obviously desirable that the question which can supply the needs of the country best should be investigated, account being taken of their capacity for the production not only of oil but of smokeless fuel that can be retailed at reasonable rates. As was pointed out in the House of Commons when the announcement was made, it is important that the com- mittee, though it reports to the Committee of Imperial Defence, should concern itself as much with commercial as with military needs.
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