| The possibility of the world facing a
| |
| | exist. Lignite is usually a high moisture
|
| "peak oil crisis" is now widely
| |
| | fuel with moisture contents of up to 65%,
|
| recognized as a clear and present danger
| |
| | for example the Victorian lignites have
|
| in the fields of fuel and energy.
| |
| | around 60% moisture. Lignites also can
|
| Unfortunately, many attractive and
| |
| | have high mineral matter (ash) content
|
| widely-touted alternate fuel systems --
| |
| | and have high sulphur contents, say to
|
| such as a safe and practical
| |
| | 5%.
|
| hydrogen-based transport fuel system --
| |
| | The economics of Coal-to-Liquids are that
|
| will remain a dream until the distant
| |
| | a crude oil price of between $US40 -
|
| future.
| |
| | $US50 per barrel is required to provide
|
| For this reason, many nations have been
| |
| | conditions where the process is viable.
|
| re-examining other transport fuel
| |
| | This infers that coal should be provided
|
| technologies, such as the Coal-to-Liquids
| |
| | at a relatively low cost; that favorable
|
| (CTL) technology, as a near future source
| |
| | logistics such as transport, access to
|
| of transport fuels.
| |
| | refineries and good proximity to markets
|
| Coal-to-Liquids -- that is, the
| |
| | exist; and that there is a financial and
|
| conversion of coal to liquid transport
| |
| | political will to invest in plant that
|
| fuels -- is in fact not new a technology
| |
| | will have over a thirty year production
|
| and has been practiced for a number of
| |
| | life. Industry wisdom is suggesting that
|
| decades in countries such as South Africa
| |
| | the scale of successful Coal-to-Liquids
|
| and Germany and will soon be adopted in
| |
| | plants will be a minimum production of
|
| China.
| |
| | 50,000 barrels per day of synthetic crude
|
| The most viable Coal-to-Liquids system
| |
| | plus 400 MWe of power available for
|
| requires the conversion of coal into a
| |
| | export.
|
| synthesis gas consisting of hydrogen and
| |
| | The introduction of CTL into the
|
| carbon monoxide and then its synthesis
| |
| | developing countries of Asia that have
|
| into long-chain liquid fuel molecules.
| |
| | suitable coal and/or lignite reserves
|
| These processes produce excess heat that
| |
| | makes good sense.
|
| can be used to generate electricity. The
| |
| | The replacement of traditional crude oil
|
| synthetic petroleum products, and
| |
| | with CTL crude has positive economic,
|
| especially synthetic diesel, have a
| |
| | environmental and security aspects for
|
| number of unique environmental
| |
| | those countries. The co-generation of
|
| advantages. These advantages include the
| |
| | electricity will also be positive, as
|
| reduction of particulates, nitrogen
| |
| | will the co-production of by-products of
|
| oxides and fugitive aromatic hydrocarbon
| |
| | sulphur, waxes and LPG (liquid petroleum
|
| emissions of those associated with
| |
| | gas).
|
| 'natural crude'.
| |
| | The production of CTL also has strong
|
| Although the technology of CTL is well
| |
| | security aspects, since indigenous liquid
|
| understood, technological challenges
| |
| | fuel is generally less vulnerable to
|
| regarding its application to specific
| |
| | disruption by terrorist action or
|
| coal and lignite (brown coal) resources
| |
| | international political disputes.
|
