Ruhröl A.G., Bottrop-Welheim
Location
| The full name of this plant is : | |||
| Ruhröl G;.m.b.H. | |||
| Hugo Stinnes Werke, | |||
| Bottrop in Westfallen. | |||
It is situated near Welheim and its position can be fixed as South of the Bottrop-Horst road and North West of Bottrop-Gelsenkirchen railway. The map reference is Sheet 52, Dusseldorf, KO 608,102. Detachment No. 114 with offices at Bottrop. The plant adjoins Vereinigte Welheim mine and its power plant is located at the mine head.
Description
Coal tar pitch and tar oils are hydrogenated to aviation petrol and fuel oil. The process employs 700 atmospheres pressure in both liquid and vapour phases. The vapour phase conversion takes place in one stage with no saturation stage. The liquid phase catalyst is iron deposited on active carbon, “iron grude” which is prepared at Leuna. The vapour phase catalyst is made at Welheim and consists of chromium, zinc and molybdenum deposited on active earth. There are two liquid phase stalls and two vapour phase stalls and the capacity of the plant is approximately 120,000 tons per year of fuel oil and 60,000 tons per year of aviation petrol.
A detailed description of the plant has been prepared by C.Cockram, CIOS Target 30/4.11. This report is on file at the Ministry of Fuel and Power.
Status
On September 13th the plant was visited by the writer, and Dr. Frese, who is the managing director, and members of his staff, were interrogated.
The plant as a whole appears badly damaged by bombing but was stated to be damaged only to the extent of 25-30 per cent. The associated chemical plant was damaged to about 85 percent. The power plant was not so badly damaged and has already been put into operation again. The oxygen plant is also ready for operation as soon as ammonia for refrigeration can be obtained. It was estimated by Dr. Frese that the hydrogenation plant could be started at 30 per cent capacity after 3 to 4 months repair work and that it could be at full capacity in 12 months. The cost of repairs would be about 20-25 million marks as compared with the original plant cost of 80-90 million marks.
There are at present about 450 workers in the plant of whom 250 are employed in the power station and 200 on minor repair work. To undertake major repairs the labour strength would have be at least doubled.
A Military Government interim report has recommended that reconstruction of the hydrogenation plant be suspended until the labour position is easier and the supply of raw materials is assured. The plant for oxygen production is to be started as soon as possible.