The first commercial operation to produce and supply gas from coal began in London about 200 years ago. Chemical engineers will meet March 10-13 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, to celebrate this milestone at the 12th European Gasification Conference.

The Gas Light and Coke Co. began supplying London with gas manufactured from coal for street lighting on New Year’s Eve, 1813. It marked the start of the first commercial gas production and supply operation in the world. Up to 8 million people in London alone would eventually rely on the technology to light and heat their homes for over a century.

“Today, gasification provides around a quarter of the world’s supply of synthetic ammonia and about one third of the world’s methanol,” said Chris Higman of Higman Consulting GmbH. “With an estimated 750 gasifiers planned or under construction across the world the technology is set to play a major part for at least another century.”

Higman will be present “200 Years of Commercial Gas Production” in March at the conference.

For more information, visit www.icheme.org.