Page 192 - Synthetic Fuels Handbook

178 CHAPTER SIX

Power Station in 1965 followed; in 1973, the 1600 MW Estonian Thermal Power Station
again boosted production, and by 1980 (the year of maximum output) the figure had risen
to 31.35 million metric tons.
In 1981, the opening of a nuclear power station in the Leningrad district of Russia sig-
naled the beginning of the decline in Estonian oil shale production. No longer were vast
quantities required for power generation and the export of electricity. The decline lasted
until 1995, with some small annual increases thereafter.
The Estonian government has taken the first steps toward privatization of the oil-shale
industry and is beginning to tackle the air and water pollution problems that nearly a cen-
tury of oil shale processing has brought. In 1999, the oil shale produced was 10.7 million
metric tons. Imports amounted to 1.4 million metric tons, 0.01 million metric tons were
exported, 11.1 million metric tons used for electricity and heat generation, and 1.3 million
metric tons were distilled to produce 151,000 t of shale oil.
Estonian oil shale resources are currently put at 5 billion metric tons including 1.5 billion
metric tons of active (mineable) reserves. It is possible that the power production part of
the industry will disappear by 2020 and that the resources could last for 30 to 50 years but
scenarios abound on the replacement of oil shale by alternative resources.
Until recently only 16 percent of Estonian shale was used for petroleum and chemical
manufacturing. However, because of the environmental problems the goal is to decrease
oil shale production.

6.3.6 Germany
A minimal quantity (0.5 million metric tons per annum) of oil shale is produced for use at the
Rohrback cement works at Dotternhausen in southern Germany, where it is consumed directly
as a fuel for power generation, the residue being used in the manufacture of cement.

6.3.7 Israel
Sizeable deposits of oil shale have been discovered in various parts of Israel, with the
principal resources located in the north of the Negev desert. Israeli reported in 1998 that
the proved amount of oil shale in place exceeded 15 billion metric tons, containing proved
recoverable reserves of 600 million metric tons of shale oil. The largest deposit (Rotem
Yamin) has shale beds with a thickness of 35 to 80 m, yielding 60 to 71 L of oil per metric
ton. Israeli oil shale is generally relatively low in heating value and oil yield, and high in
sulfur content, compared with other major deposits. A pilot power plant fuelled by oil shale
has been technically proven in the Negev region. Annual production of oil shale has aver-
aged 450,000 t in recent years.

6.3.8 Jordan
There are extremely large proven and exploitable reserves of oil shale in the central and
northwestern regions of the country. The proved amount of oil shale in place is reported to
be 40 billion metric tons; proved recoverable reserves of shale oil are put at 4 billion metric
tons, with estimated additional reserves of 20 billion metric tons.
Jordanian shale is generally of quite good quality, with relatively low ash and moisture
content. Gross calorific value (7.5 MJ/kg) and oil yield (8–12 percent) are on a par with
those of western Colorado (U.S.) shale; however, Jordanian shale has exceptionally high
sulfur content (up to 9 percent by weight of the organic content). The reserves are exploit-
able by opencast mining and are easily accessible.