small-scale conversion units for decentralized electric 

 power generation, and better control of coal impurities 

 or of attributes which otherwise harm the environment. 

 The end products of conversion — liquids and gases — are 

 more easily handled in the distribution system than is 

 the coal itself, thus enabling coal to displace 

 petroleum distillates in transportation. 



Further development and application of coal 

 conversion and combustion technology could result in 

 (1) the production of gases and liquids for further use 

 as fuels or chemical feedstocks; (2) the improvement of 

 combustion efficiency in existing methods and 

 procedures for using coal; (3) the improvement of 

 fluidized bed processes and techniques; (4) the 

 development of small-scale conversion units for 

 decentralized energy systems; and (5) improved handling 

 of wastes and consideration of the toxic or 

 carcinogenic effects of the by-products of conversion 

 on workers and communities. 



Proposed Initiatives 



A large effort already exists in this field. The 

 Soviet Union has operated underground coal gasification 

 for years, and current U.S. research, both governmental 

 and nongovernmental, is substantial. About 16 plants 

 using the Lurgi process for coal gasification now 

 operate throughout the world, and pilot plants for 

 newer processes are in existence both here and abroad. 

 We suggest that sites in other countries be identified 

 for pilot testing or for commercial demonstration of 

 coal conversion technology, thus broadening the 

 spectrum of testing conditions. 



In the United States, the Department of Energy 

 (DOE), private corporations, and industrial consortia 

 such as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) , 

 the Gas Research Institute (GRI) , and others are 

 already working in this area. These consortia might be 

 urged to open their membership to developing country 

 participants. Another possibility might be the 

 establishment of a new international research and 

 development consortium for coal combustion and 

 conversion technology. 



The United states could also seek sponsorship for 

 an international conference to display the hardware as 

 well as the software of coal combustion and conversion 

 technologies and to bring together representatives of 

 both developed and developing countries for an exchange 

 of information. This type of conference is already 

 being held in the industrialized nations. For example, 

 the Offshore Technology Conference, which operates as a 

 nonprofit group, is held annually in Houston and 



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