CHIN-HSI SYNTHETIC FUELS PLANT AND CHEMICAL PLANT, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000300210029-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2000
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: January 31, 1964
• Content Type: MF

ILLEGIB
Approved For Release 2001/06/09 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300210029-8
Approved For Release 2001/06/09 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300210029-8
 IB 64/64
31 January 1964
Copy 14-
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Resources Division, ORR
R/FU
THROUGH Chief, Requirements Branch, Reconnaissance Group, CGS
FROM Chief, CIA/PID (NPIC)
SUBJECT Chin-Hsi Synthetic Fuels Plant and Chemical Plant, China
REFERENCES (1) ORR Requirement No. ORR/4l/62
(2) CIA/PID Pr ject No. C 711/63 and C 720/63
1. Referenced requirements request descriptions of the synthetic fuel
plant/refinery and the chemical plant at Chin-hsi, China. These descriptions
are to include and evaluation of the plants' level of activity, comments about
changes and recent expansions, and if possible, an estimation of capacity or
status of operation. Annotated photographic enlargements of the plants were
also requested.
2. The Chin-hsi synthetic fuels plant and refinery is made up of a
series of units for the synthesizing of crude oil by coal liquefaction, and
refinery units for producing finished products from both synthetic and .
natural crude oil. Also, included in the complex is a large chemical and
acia section, a heat and power plant, and a large maintenance, storage and
packaging area.
The synthesizing area contains a bank of retorts for production of
coal gas, gas purification and compression units, a synthesis building, a
l-rge gasometer, and several storage tanks to handle liquid ends from the
combustion of coal in the retorts. This area appears more or less static
with respect to expansion.
The refinery end of the complex contains several distillation units
and numerous crude and products storage tanks. Expansion and construction
in the refinery area has been more or less limited to the building of additional
tank cap---city. Some of the larger tanks and the reservoir under construction
near the distillation areas appear to be for the storage of crude oil.
DECLASSIFICATION REVIEW BY NIMA / DoD
 SUBJECT: Chin-Hsi Synthetic Fuels Plant and Chemical Plant, China
I
Construction in this area appears to be more or less complete.
The maintenance, storage and packaging areas contain numerous shop
and warehouse type buildings and considerable open storage space. Some new
building in this area was noted, and large stockpiles of construction material
would indicate planning for future expansion.
The chemical section contains two separate tower and production
building layouts for acid production and many chemical storage tanks. This
area is particularly active in construction and expansion.
3. The Chin-hsi Chemical Plant was broken down for this report into four
main sections - the caustic soda and chlorine section, the bleach and chlorides
section, the coal gas section, and the possible nitric acid and nitrates section.
The main components of the caustic section are the cell buildings,
the brine handling facilities, and the probable caustic fusion building.
The bleach and chlorides section of the plant contains a tower and
buildings for bleach production, several tanks'and facilities which indicate
the production of hydrochloric acid, several warehouses and packaging buildings,
and storage tanks. Additional facilities were noted on the latest photography
to be under construction in this section of the plant.
The coal gas section contains a bank of retorts, a heat and power
facility, gas purification and compression units, and a large gasometer.
No new construction was noted at this section.
The possible nitric acid and nitrates section contains several
scattered banks of absorbers and purification units, storage tanks and
gasometers, and numerous buildings. The functions of a large percentage of
these buildings could not be determined from the available photography.
Considerable construction is being carried on in this area.
4. Atmospheric emmissions from various parts of the complex, stockpiles
of raw materials, and considerable rail activity throughout the areas indicate
that both plants are operational. Because of the nature of the products and
the rate of expansion, it is not possible to estimate from available photography
what percentage of the plants' capacities are being used.
125X1 C
25X1 C
I
25X1 D
Co ar nhotoaraDhic coverage of the fuels and chemical plants
dated 25X1C
show the plants to be in a very active stage of construction
and expansion. On the latter mission, large quantities of construction materials
in storage areas and numerous construction sites were noted which would indicate
a future rate of expansion comparable to that noted during the interval.of time
4W
 I
SUBJECT: Chin-hsi Synthetic Fuels Plant and Chemical Plant, China
Photographic enlargements from the above - Missions are 25X1C
e
included with this report to better illustrate the great amount of Chan
that has taken place in the plants. Also, the enlargements from (with 25X10
annotated overlays) show the still very active building program being carried
on.
6. The photo analysts assigned to these projects were 25X1A
25X1A and who may be contacted on extension 293+ should you
' have further questions regarding the projects. These requirements are
considered to be complete as of the date of this memorandum.
ENCLOSURES :
5 Enlargements (CIA/PID/IB-P-103/6- thru P-107/64)
2 Overlays (CIA/PID/IB-P-225/64 and P-22664)
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 Approved For Release 2001/06/09 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300210029-8
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Approved For Release 2001/06/09 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300210029-8
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 ILLEGIB
Approved For Release 2001/06/09 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300210029-8
Approved For Release 2001/06/09 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300210029-8