The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Research Coal Liquefactors in the Idea Tree, build one in an Industrial District, and supply it with coal to produce oil. Its main strategic use is on the Progress route: once the Generator is upgraded to Oil Pumps, it runs exclusively on oil, so liquefying coal can keep your remaining coal useful as fuel.
How to build and use a Coal Liquefactor
- Check the Idea Tree. Find and research Coal Liquefactors. One Chapter 2 walkthrough describes the building as unlocking automatically after the first Generator Upgrade, while a separate building guide directs players to research it in the Idea Tree. Since those descriptions differ, use the unlock state shown in your own game. Game8’s Coal Liquefactors guide identifies a dedicated branch.
- Build it in an Industrial District. The Pressurised Coal Liquefactor is listed for this district type; it is not a direct Generator upgrade. Neoseeker’s building list gives the placement and reported requirements.
- Assign workers and provide coal. The listed operating requirements are 300 Workforce and 100 Coal. Once operating, the building produces oil.
- Use the oil in your fuel plan. The liquefactor converts fuel; it does not directly heat the city. Send the resulting oil into the supply chain needed by your Generator.
Reported Pressurised Coal Liquefactor requirements
The figures below are listed by Neoseeker. They are guide-reported values, not a guaranteed specification for every game version; the page does not establish its version or last-updated date. Check the in-game building panel for the values in your save.
| Category | Listed value |
|---|---|
| Construction | 300 Workforce, 200 Heatstamps, 100 Prefabs, and 1 Core |
| Operating input | 300 Workforce and 100 Coal |
| Maintenance/demand | 40 Materials |
| Output | 80 Oil |
| Placement | Industrial District |
The listed conversion is 100 Coal to 80 Oil. Treat that as the guide’s stated figure rather than a confirmed current-patch rate.
When coal liquefaction is useful
After choosing the Progress route
The central use case is the Progress route’s Oil Pumps Generator upgrade. The Chapter 2 walkthrough says that upgrade makes the Generator run exclusively on oil. Converting coal into oil gives leftover coal a use in that fuel plan. The publisher’s description of Frostpunk 2 frames the setting as a shift from coal toward an oil-extraction industry, but that is narrative context rather than a mechanical specification: 11 bit studios’ announcement.
#1 Best Overall
- Develop, expand, and advance your city in a society survival single-player game set 30 years after an apocalyptic blizzard ravaged Earth. In Frostpunk 2, you face not only the perils of never-ending winter, but also the powerful factions that watch your every step inside the Council Hall.
- Frostpunk 2 elevates the city-survival genre to a new level. Take the role of a Steward and lead your city through a cascade of calamities taking place in a postapocalyptic, snowy setting.
- The world is overtaken by an ever present winter, which makes expansion of the city the only way for the survival of mankind.
- In order to grow, the metropolis needs resources like coal and oil, just like its citizens require food and warmth. In Frostpunk 2, it's your job to tackle this never ending circle of supply and demand.
- In addition to the base game, Frostpunk 2 ICEBREAKER EDITION includes: A meticulously crafted New London pop-up diorama, a redemption code for the official Frostpunk 2 artbook, and a redemption code for the 'Warm Flesh' novella (English version).
When it is not the solution
A Coal Liquefactor changes one fuel into another; it does not create additional coal or increase the rate at which a deposit is extracted. If your underlying issue is access to coal deposits, a deep-deposit strategy is a separate option.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Coal liquefaction versus a Deep Melting Drill
| Option | What it does | Access and placement | Reported requirements or limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressurised Coal Liquefactor | Converts coal into oil. | Listed for an Industrial District. Check the Idea Tree and your in-game unlock state. | Neoseeker lists 100 Coal and 300 Workforce to operate, 40 Materials for maintenance/demand, and 80 Oil output. Figures are guide-reported, with version validity not established. |
| Deep Melting Drill | Provides access to deep deposits; it does not convert coal into oil. | Dot Esports says to research Generator Upgrade One and then Melting Deep Deposits, frostbreak to a matching deep deposit, and build the corresponding district before placing the drill. In Story mode, the guide says this path requires reaching Chapter Two and choosing “defeat the frost”; “embrace the frost” blocks that research path. Utopia Builder can access the drill. | Dot Esports lists 80 Heatstamps, 40 Prefabs, and one Core, with 300 Workforce and 60 Materials to operate/maintain; it increases Squalor. The guide says it does not increase extraction rate over regular deposits, and stocks can still run short if use exceeds extraction. |
For the drill’s route and requirements, see Dot Esports’ Deep Melting Drill guide. The two buildings solve different problems: liquefaction makes existing coal usable as oil, while the drill opens access to deep deposits. Neither should be assumed to guarantee enough supply for consumption.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Develop, expand, and advance your city in a society survival single-player game set 30 years after an apocalyptic blizzard ravaged Earth. In Frostpunk 2, you face not only the perils of never-ending winter, but also the powerful factions that watch your every step inside the Council Hall.
- Frostpunk 2 elevates the city-survival genre to a new level. Take the role of a Steward and lead your city through a cascade of calamities taking place in a postapocalyptic, snowy setting.
- The world is overtaken by an ever present winter, which makes expansion of the city the only way for the survival of mankind.
- In order to grow, the metropolis needs resources like coal and oil, just like its citizens require food and warmth. In Frostpunk 2, it's your job to tackle this never ending circle of supply and demand.
- In addition to the base game, Frostpunk 2 ICEBREAKER EDITION includes: A meticulously crafted New London pop-up diorama, a redemption code for the official Frostpunk 2 artbook, and a redemption code for the 'Warm Flesh' novella (English version).
Rank #3
- POST-APOCALYPTIC SURVIVAL GAME: In Frostpunk, players will take on the role of leaders of a small colony of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world that was hit by a severe ice age. Their duty is to effectively manage both its infrastructure and citizens.
- STRATEGY BOARD GAME: Make the Laws, send out expeditions to uncover the fate of humanity in the frozen wastes, face the consequences of your actions in front of those you swore to protect.
- MULTIPLE PATHS TO VICTORY: The players will decide the fate of their people. Will you treat them like another resource? Are you going to be an inspiring builder, a fearless explorer, or a bright scientist? Is your rule going to be a sting of tyranny or an era of law and equality?
- HIGHLY VARIABLE: The core gameplay is brutal, challenging, and complex, but easy to learn. The citizens won’t just be speechless pieces on the board. Society members will issue demands and react accordingly to the current mood, so every decision and action bears consequences.
- NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND AVERAGE PLAYTIME: This board game is designed for 1 to 4 players and is suitable for ages 16 and older. Average playtime is approximately 120-150 minutes.
Rank #2
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
