Synfuels: if South Africa can turn coal into oil, to meet half of its petroleum needs

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Across Board; (United States)

OSTI ID:6275089

Rogers, J T

South Africa's Sasol plants are successfully producing liquid fuels from domestic coal, and a third plant will bring synfuel production to 50% of the country's oil requirements. The US Synthetic Fuels Corporation authorized during the Carter administration was intended to provide incentives for synfuel commercialization in order to reduce dependence on oil imports. The Reagan administration appears to be shifting the corporation's focus with it taking on five new developmental projects formerly under DOE subsidy, but critics worry that the private sector will not risk the capital for processes like oil shale or biomass that are still in the developmental or experimental stages. Oil-shale, coal-liquefaction, and coal-gasification technologies compete for water in areas where water is already a serious constraint, while biomass fuels compete with food production for land. Cautious reports suggest that conservation and greater reliance on coal and nuclear power can avoid many of the economic and environmental constraints of synfuels. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 6275089
• Journal Information: Across Board; (United States), Journal Name: Across Board; (United States) Vol. 18:6; ISSN ACBOD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010400 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Processing
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040400 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Oil Production
Recovery
& Refining
090120 -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
295000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Hydrogen & Synthetic Fuels
COMMERCIALIZATION
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
SYNTHETIC FUELS
SYNTHETIC FUELS CORPORATION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT