[Chuck Moreland]

While the coal to liquid fuel conversion process is not 100% efficient, that is far from the only consideration.

Here is the biggest - existing infrastructure.

I can't put coal in my tank. But if coal to fuel can run in existing combustion engines and use the existing distribution network, it makes economic sense to accept a lot of inefficiency.

If $55 / barrel is a real number, that would be net of all conversion inefficiencies. And still less than half the current price of crude!

Sound like a no brainer.