Biofuels in inter-war Poland - a small step towards sustainable development

Abstract

After the end of the war over its eastern frontier Poland began to revive the oil industry. The process was stimulated by an infl ow of French, British, American and Swedish capital. Foreign shareholders, however, were primarily interested in high proceeds from oil extraction and processing, and the domestic industry, due to war-time neglect, needed large investments. The output of the oil fields was decreasing, but since home demand for petroleum products was imited, some could be exported. Initially, crude oil constituted the majority of exports, to give way to refined products later. The difficulties of the petroleum industry during the Great Depres-sion (1930–1935) resulted from the closure of some markets, a decline in oil production, and the state policy, including high taxes on oil. The situation improved only at the end of the period, due to changes in the investment policy of the state. Independently of oil-refining, aromatic hydrocarbons were produced in coking plants, mostly in Upper Silesia. The largest producer of benzol was Związek Koksowni sp. z o.o., a company established on the basis of the former Rütgerswerke AG in Hajduki Wielkie. Its basic product was coke, providing also some valuable by-products, including benzol, which after some further processing could fuel both low-compression and diesel engines. Substantial investment in both the plant in Hajduki and a new one in Chmielów in the 1930s made it possible to satisfy the extensive demand of the military industry complex. Poland’s complicated economic situation after the regaining of independence also affected the distilling industry. The lower consumption of alcohol and the lower demand of the chemical industry resulted in substantial surplus supply. Limited chances of export led to starting the production of dehydrated spirit. As oil companies were not interested in this product, it was only in the early 1920s that small amounts of fuel mixtures became available. Forerunners in the production of modern fuel blends were Państwowa Fabryka Olejów Mineralnych “Polmin”, SA “Drago”, “Polska Monopolina” sp. z o. o; other oil companies were reluctant about fuel mixtures. The situation changed during the economic crisis, after an agree-ment was made between the State Spirit Monopoly and the Trade Association of the Oil Industry, obligating fuel producers to buy the amount of dehydrated spirit equalling 9% and later 15% of their fuel sales in the previous year. As a result, new two-component (petrol and spirit) and three-component (petrol, spirit and benzol) blends began to be retailed. The composition of fuel mixtures and motor oils was worked out by scientists from the Chemical Research Institute, Warsaw Technical University, Lviv Technical University and the Academy of Mining. Changes in the government’s policy of motorization stirred the demand for cars, since the spendings could be deduced from the income tax, and this naturally lead to increased fuel consumption. Petroleum output decreased; if the number of cars grew to 84,000 the demand for fuel would be fully satisfi ed by blends. A further increase of the number of cars would require importing petroleum products. Long-term forecasts of fuel business development included the introduction of standardized three-component (petrol, spirit and benzol) 75-octane and 80-octane mixtures. In the same period research was well under way on alternative fuels based on butane-propane, methyl alcohol, wood distillation gas and liquefi ed gas. The implementation of new technologies and research on new fuel mixtures and alternative fuels was initiated and supported by the Ministry of Military Affairs.