Why South Africa spurs liquefaction while other nations move more warily

Journal Article · Mon Sep 19 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Energy Res. Rep.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7212467

Friedland, R J

Large deposits of low-grade coal, no deposits of petroleum and natural gas, and a unique political vulnerability combine to make commercial coal liquefaction valid for South Africa. Local coal is used to generate electricity by the expensive Lurgi process, which is subsidized by the government. Sasol, the South Africa Coal, Oil, and Gas Corp. has operated since 1950 and supplied seven percent of the gasoline consumed. A warm climate and government subsidy have discouraged a competing petroleum market from developing. Sasol plans a large-scale facility for 1984 that will produce 40 percent of the gasoline requirement. When fully operational, the plant will save South Africe $400 million a year at current oil and coal prices. The new plant will use a scaled-up Synthol fluid-bed reactor to produce a higher-octane gasoline. More-efficient gasifiers will be used and a wider range of coals can be accommodated. Research on solvent refining of coal has allowed Sasol to license the process to other countries. The company also consults with American firms on the gasification of lignites. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 7212467
• Journal Information: Energy Res. Rep.; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Res. Rep.; (United States) Vol. 3:17; ISSN ERRED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010405 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
AFRICA
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL LIQUEFACTION
COAL LIQUEFACTION PLANTS
COAL RESERVES
COMMERCIALIZATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASIFICATION
GASOLINE
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LIQUEFACTION
LURGI PROCESS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POWER GENERATION
RESERVES
SASOL PROCESS
SOUTH AFRICA
SYNTHOL PROCESS