Abstract: A process for converting coal to an oil fraction, which comprises subjecting coal to a first hydrogenation reaction, deashing the reaction product of the first hydrogenation reaction and subjecting the deashed liquefied oil to a second hydrogenation reaction, wherein coal, a solvent and hydrogenation-treated heavy oil components are supplied for the first hydrogenation reaction; from the first hydrogenation reaction product, at least a part of the oil fraction is obtained; from the first hydrogenation reaction product, a substantial amount of preasphaltene components is removed simultaneously with or independently of the deashing operation, and the deashed liquefied oil containing heavy oil components and not greater than 20% by weight of preasphaltene components thereby obtained, is supplied for the second hydrogenation reaction; from the second hydrogenation reaction product, an oil fraction and heavy oil components are separated and the heavy oil components are recycled to the first hydrogenation reaction

Abstract: A process for converting coal, comprising, subjecting a slurry composed essentially of coal, a hydrocarbon solvent and a hydrogenation catalyst to primary hydrogenation to liquify the coal, separating the ash content of said coal from the reaction product thereby obtaining a liquified product, subjecting at least a portion of the liquified product to secondary hydrogenation in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst thereby converting the liquified product to light oil product, the secondary hydrogenation step being a point of supply of hydrogenation catalyst to the coal conversion system, separating the hydrogenation catalyst from the reaction product of the secondary hydrogenation step, and returning said separated hydrogenation catalyst to the primary hydrogenation step where it is used as the catalyst for primary hydrogenation of said slurry.