A process for the removal of water from a wet material comprising combustible organic solids to form a solid autothermally combustible fuel comprises the steps of contacting the material with a dewatering liquid comprising a water-immiscible solvent and dissolved water-in-oil emulsifier and then extracting a water-in-oil emulsion from the mixture wherein the wet material is preferably pre-treated with an absorbent material comprising a water swellable polymer to effect preliminary drying of the wet material.