cwe in good company, page-5

I live in the real world and have worked at all Latrobe Valley Power Stations over a thirty five year period.
The Government may have a wish to export brown coal, but it will not happen. Brown coal is up round 70% or higher in water content. There is currently no technology available to dry it for export. The brown coal is dried prior to being used on site for electricity generation and used as soon as it is dried. The problem is, it is not completely dry and is subject to spontaneous combustion and catches fire often. Imagine that at sea on a ship.

Back in the early 80's the Japanese set up a plant here in Morwell near the Hazelwood Power Station to investigate the possibility of converting brown coal to oil. They did succeed in producing enough for a small motor bike. They have been gone now, for near on 30 years.

There must me an election in the air as 12 to 18 months out from a state election both sides of State Government have run the story a full size coal to oil plant will be built in the Latrobe Valley. The story is run by the Government in power at the time. This makes them appear to be doing something. As soon as the elections are over it is forgotten until the next election. This has happened now for 30 years

Exporting brown coal is just political spin this time by a Liberal Government that is currently in power.