THE NITRIC ACID INDUSTRY IN THE USSR

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• Collection: General CIA Records
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• Document Page Count: 53
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 21, 2013
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: June 4, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE REPORT
THE NITRIC ACID INDUSTRY IN THE USSR
CIA/RR 24
4 June 1953
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS
SECRET
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WARNING
This material contains information affecting
the National Defense of the United States
within the meaning of the espionage laws,
Title 18, USC, Secs. 793 and 794, the trans-
mission or revelation of which in any manner
to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
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SECURITY INFORMATION
ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE REPORT
TM NITRIC ACID INDUSTRY IN W#E USSR
CIA/RR 24
(ORR.Project 22.1.2)
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Research and Reports
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CONTENTS
Summary
Page
I. Introduction
14.
II. Technology
5
1. Weak Nitric Acid
6
2. Concentrated Nitric Acid
7
III. Supplies
7
1. Production
7
2. Comparison of Soviet Production of Nitric Acid . . .
with US Production . . . . . .
14
3. Regional Distribution of Production
14
4. Location and Estimated Production of Plants
17
5. Stockpiling
19
6. Trade
20
7. Total Supply
20
IV. Input Requirements
20
V. Consumption
22
VI. Capabilities, Vulnerabilities, and Intentions
22
1. Capabilities
22
2. Vulnerabilities
23
3. Intentions
23
Appendixes
Appendix A. Nitric Acid Plants in the USSR
25
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Tables
1. Estimated Production of Nitric Acid in the USSR,
Selected Years, 1913-55
2. Estimated Production of Nitric Acid in the USSR.
As Compared with US Production, 194751
Page
15
3. Estimated Production,of*Nitric.Acid in the USSR
.by Economic Regions, 1953 16
4. Location and Estimated Production of Nitric Acid Plants
17
in the USSR, 1952-53
5 Raw Material Requirements for the Manufacture of Nitric
21
Acid in the USSR, 1953
. Estimated Consumption of Nitric Acid in the USSR,
22
1953
Chart
Estimated Production of Nitric Acid in the USSR,-
1932-55
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CIA/RR 24 S-E-C-R-E-T
(CER Project 22.1.2)
SECURITY INFORMATION
THE NITRIC ACID INDUSTRY IN TBE USSR*
Summary
Nitric .acid is perhaps the most important military chemical and
an indispensable industrial chemical. As a military chemical, it is
essential to the manufacture of all nonatomic high explosives and
propellants and is assuming increasing importance as a fuel oxidizer
in rocket-propelled guided missiles. As an industrial chemical, it
is used principally for the manufacture of nitrogenous fertilizers,
industrial explosives, and organic dyestuffs.
The only procesd of commercial significance for the manufacture
of nitric acid in the USSR is the ammonia oxidation process. Soviet
technology regarding this process is comparable with corresponding
technology in the US, Germany, the UK, and other industrial nations.
The USSR has placed great emphasis on the development of the nitric
acid industry and its parent industry, the synthetic ammonia industry.
The output of the nitric acid, synthetic ammonia, and nitrogen ferti-
lizer industries (which are called, collectively, the nitrogen indus-
try) is greater, relative to US production, than the output of any
other allied groups of Soviet chemical industries. The Soviet inten-
tion here is quite clear. During peacetime, practically unlimited
supplies of ammonia and nitric acid, in the form of ammonium nitrate,
can be applied to the soil as fertilizer. In the event of war,these
chemicals can be diverted quickly and easily to the manufacture of
military explosives. The continued emphasis placed on the expansion
of this industry by the USSR indicates an acute awareness of the
necessity for having a large explosives production potential as soon
as possible.
Nitric acid** has been a product of the Soviet, chemical industry
since before World War I, and production increased from a reported
2,872 tons*** in 1913 to an estimated 400,000 tons in 1940. The
* This report contains information available as of 1 April 1953.
** Unless otherwise specified, all figures for the production and
consumption of nitric acid in this report are on the basis of
100 percent nitric acid.
xxx Tonnages are given in metric tons throughout this report.
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penetration of the German armies in 1941 and 1942 resulted in the
loss of about half of the productive capacity of the industry,
but intensification of production in the plants remaining under
Soviet control, combined with the output of new installations in
the eastern areas, enabled the USSR to reattain by 1943 the 1940
production level of about 400,000 tons and to increase output by
1945 to an estimated 500,000 tons. In spite of the apparent
success achieved by the USSR in the manufacture of nitric acid
during World War II, a critical shortage of this chemical probably
would have been experienced had it not been for the aid furnished
to the USSR under Lend-Lease.
The output of nitric acid in the USSR fi'om 1946 through 1949
is Obscure because many of the plants were undergoing extensive
rehabilitation and expansion during this period. By 1950) how-
ever, the restoration of the industry was almost-completed, and
production from installed facilities probably was approaching a
peak. A survey of plant information indicates that the output
of nitric acid in the USSR was about 1,035,000 tons in 1950,
increasing by 1953 to an estimated 1,195,000 tons, equivalent to
about 44 percent of US production of nitric acid in 1951. This
supply of nitric acid should be ample to meet Soviet demands for
explosives; to fill all industrial requirements; and, in addition,
to make hundreds of thousands of tons of nitrogenous fertilizers.
In the event of a general war in the near future, much of that
nitric acid which is allocated for the manufacture of ammonium
nitrate would be concentrated and reallocated to the manufacture
of high explosives and smokeless powder and for use as rocket fuel
oxidizer, although this latter requirement would be small relative
to the total military requirements. In addition, practically all
of the remaining production of ammonium nitrate, previously allo-
cated to agriculture for use as fertilizer, would be reallocated
to the explosives industry for use as a component of military and
industrial high explosives. When it is considered that the peak
annual output of nitric acid in the USSR during World War II was
only about one-third as large as the estimated 1953 output, it
appears, if the effects of possible wartime destruction are ignored,
that the present output is sufficient to sustain a prolonged mili-
tary effort of major proportions.
The primary input requirements for the manufacture of an esti-
mated 1,195,000 tons of nitric acid in the USSR in 1953 are estimated
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\\
at, about 346,000 to\358,000 tons Of ammonia, 120 to 155 kilograms
of platinum catalyst, and. 250 to 360 Million kilowatt-hours of
electricity.
The requirements for nitric acid in the USSR in 1953 cannot be
estimated, because of insufficient information, but, based partly
on the estimated production, the consumption is estimated as follows
by broad category of use: 700,000 tons, or 58.5 percent, for the
manufacture of nitrogenous fertilizers; 400,000 tons, or 33.5 per-
cent, for the manufacture of military and industrial explosives;
and 95,000 tons, or 8 percent, for chemical manufacture and all
other uses.
Although information is lacking, it can be stated with near
certainty that nitric acid is not stockpiled in the USSR. Rather
than stockpiling the highly corrosive nitric acid, which would
require prohibitive amounts of stainless steel or aluminum alloy
tankage, it is believed that the Russians are stockpiling the
finished and semifinished products such as filled munitions, high
explosives, and ammonium nitrate.
The Soviet nitric acid industry is entirely self-sufficient
and is, therefore, not vulnerable to economic warfare. The plants
producing nitric acid are well dispersed throughout the USSR, the
principal economic regions* of production being the Ukraine,
Central European USSR, the Urals, and Central Asia, which account
for about 85 percent of the total Soviet output.
The nitrogen Industry ieNa potentially good indicator of Soviet
intentions with respect,ttheNimmediate future. Preparatory to
Initiating large-scale of of military high
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explosives probably would be greatly increased. Such an increase
necessarily would be accompanied by increased prolliction of concen-
trated nitric acid and by reduced production of ammonium nitrate.
In addition, large quantities of ammonium nitrateprobably would
be diverted from agriculture to the explosives industry. Thus a
sudden large increase in the production of military explosives,
which presumably would not take place unless the USSR was planning
or expecting a large-scale war in the immediate future, might be
revealed by a significant reduction of deliveries of ammonium ni-
trate to agriculture.
I. Introduction.
Nitric acid (HNO3) is one of the most valuable products of the
chemical industry. It is a heavy, fuming liquid with a sharp chok-
ing odor and is colorless when pure but ordinarily yellow in color.
The coloration is caused by the presence of oxides of nitrogen
resulting from the decomposition of the acid. It is extremely cor-
rosive to metals. The processing equipment in modern plants, there-
fore, is constructed principally of stainless steel and high-silicon
iron. Tank cars and drums used for shipping nitric acid usually are
constructed of stainless steel or aluminum'alloy. Mixed acids --
that is, mixtures of concentrated nitric acid and sulfuric acid used
for nitration purposes -- may be shipped in iron drums or tank cars.
-A consideration Of the use pattern of nitric acid immediately
establishes it as perhaps the most important military chemical and
as an indispensable industrial chemical. As a military chemical,
nitric acid is essential to the production of all nonatomic high
explosives and propellants, such as trinitrotoluene (TNT), picric
acid, hexogen, tetryl, pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN*), mercury
fulminate, nitrocellulose, and nitroglycerine. In addition, nitric
acid is assuming increasing importance as a fuel oxidizer in rocket-
propelled guided missiles.
As an industrial chemical, nitric acid is used for the production
of the nitroderivatives of benzol, naphthalene, anthracene, and other
*. Designated TEN in the USSR.
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aromatic compounds which in turn are used as intermediates in Pie
manufacture of various organic chemicals and dyestuffs. The princi-
pal industrial use for nitric acid, however, is in the manufacture
of inorganic salts, such as ammonium, sodium, and calcium nitrates,
which are used primarily as soil fertilizers. Ammonium nitrate, in
addition to being the most widely used nitrogen fertilizer, also is
employed in large quantities in the USSR as a component of military
and industrial high explosives. Smaller amounts of nitric acid are
consumed by industry in the manufacture of copper/and silver nitrates,
in the pickling of brass, in photoengraving,/ and in other miscel-
laneous applications.
In the nitration of organic compounds for the manufactUre of
explosives, aye intermediates, and other similar products, concen-
trated, or white fuming, nitric acid, having a concentration of
about 96 to 99 percent HNO3 by weight, is required. Weak nitric
acid, having a concentration of about 49 to 65 percent HNO3 by weight,
is used in the manufacture of ammonium nitrate and other inorganic
nitrates and in most of the miscellaneous industrial applications.
II. Technology.
At present, only one process of commercial significance for the
production of nitric acid is in use in the USSR. This process is
known as the ammonia oxidation process. Other methods of production
of nitric acid, such as the arc method and the sodium nitrate method,
have only an historical significance in the USSR and are not treated
in this report. The ammonia oxidation process has many modifications
with respect to the size and design of equipment, to operating
pressures and temperatures, and to other variable conditions but con-
sists essentially in the following unit processes:
1. Ammonia is oxidized to nitric oXide by passing a mix-
ture of ammonia gas and air, or ammonia gas and air enriched with
oxygen, through a converter equipped with a platinum-rhodium
gauze catalyst heated to about 750?C.
2. The resulting nitric oxide gas is passed through heat
exchangers, cooled, and then passed into cooled absorption columns,
, where the nitric oxide gas is further oxidized to nitrogen dioxide
gas. The nitrogen dioxide gas is then absorbed in dilute nitric
acid to produce a water solution of weak nitric acid having a con-
centration of about 49 to 65 percent HNO3 by weight.
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This process may be carried out at atmospheric pressure or at
pressures up to about 100 pounds per square inch. Oxidation and
absorption at atmospheric pressure furnish a nitric acid contain-
ing about 49 to 55 percent HNO3 by weight, whereas an acid con-
taining about 60 to 65 percent HNO3 by weight is obtained when the
process is carried out under pressures above atmospheric.
The concentrated nitric acid (96 to 99 percent HNO3) required
particularly for the nitration of organic compounds in the produc-
tion of explosives, dye intermediates, and similar products is ?
usually obtained by mixing the weakmitric acid (49 to 65 percent
HNO3) from the absorption columns with strong sulfuric acid and
distilling in either a pot still or a continuous iipe still. The
distillate in the form of nitric acid vapors is condensed, thus;
producing strong nitric acid having a concentration of about 96
to 99 percent HNO3 by weight. Concentrated nitric acidels0 may
be produced directly from the nitric oxide gas leaving the con-
verter by further oxidation to nitrogen tetroxide and subeequent
polymerization with weak nitric acid and oxygen. This process' / /
produces concentrated nitric acid in one step, thus avoiding the
concentration of weak acid by means of the sulfuric acid distilla-
tion. In the USSR, the former process is of far greater commercial
significance than the latter.
Soviet technology in the field of nitric acid production is
comparable with technology in the US, Germany, the UK, and other
industrial-nations. Sufficient evidence is available in- Soviet
technical literature to show that muCh research work has been
done by the Russians on the many details associated with each
of the unit processes and operations involved in the production
of nitric acid. 1/*
Soviet specifications regarding the quality of nitric acid are
as follows
1. Weak Nitric Acid (OST** 15374-39).
Content of HNO3 in percent by weight,
not less than
Solid residue, calcined, in percent
by weight, not more than
Grade A Grade B
49 6o
0.07
0.05
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** OST is the Russian abbreviation for Obshchesoyuznyy standart
(All-Union Standard).
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Although it is not so stated in the Soviet literature, Grade A
weak nitric acid is undoubtedly that\acid produced by plants operating
at atmospheric pressure, whereas Grade, B is that produced by the ele-
vated pressure process plants.
2% Concentrated Nitric Acid (GOST* 701-41).
1st Grade 2d Grade
Content of HNO3 in percent by weight,
not less than
Content of nitric oxides calculated
as N204 in percent by weight, not
98
96
more than
0.3
0.4
Solid residue in percent by weight,
not more than
0.05
0.07
Content of sulfuric acid in percent
by weight, not more than
0.1
p.2
III. Supplies.
1. Production.
a. 1913-28.
Before World War I the manufacture of nitric acid in/
Russia depended entirely on imported Chilean sodium nitrate, and
production in 1913 was reported to have been 2,872 tons. During
World War I the supply of sodium nitrate from Chile was cut off,
and the Russian explosives industry was placed in a precarious
position. Attempts were made to exploit the saltpeter ore in
Dagestan and Turkestanl** but the deposits were found'to be too
small, and the plan proved a failure. In order, therefore, to
keep their explosives plants operating, the Russians were forced
to devise another means of producing nitric acid. Since no
facilities were available for the production of synthetic ammonia,
a method was worked out whereby nitric acid was produced by oxi-
dation of the ammonia solution derived from the coking of coal.
* GOST is the Russian abbreviation for Gosudarstvennyy.
dbshchesoyuznyy standart (State All-Union Standard). Both OST
and GOST refer to Soviet standard specifications regarding the
quality of products.
** Turkestan is the former name for those areas of the USSR now
included in the economic regions Xazakhstan SSR and Central Asia:
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Pilot work on this process was done at the Makeyevka coal tar chemi-
cal plant, and in 1916 the construction of a.commercial-scale syn-
thetic nitric acid plant was begun at Stalino (Yuzovka). .3/ The
original capacity of this plant was reported as 10,000 tons per year
of ammonium nitrate, equivalent to a nitric acid capacity of about
7,900 tons. 1.1/ The total production of nitric acid in Russia in
1916 was reported to have been 11,727 tons. 2/
As a result of the'OCtober Revolution in 1917 and the
civil war which ensued, most of the chemical plants and other indus-
trial plants ceased operating, and, although statistics are lacking,
it is fairly certain that the annual output of nitric acid in the
USSR before 1926 was lower than it had been in 1916. An effective
program for the restoration of the chemical industry was begun in
1926, and by the end of 1927 it is probable that the output of nitric
acid had reached the prerevolutionary level.
b. First Five Year Plan (1928-32).
According to information published by the USSR, the
first plant in the USSR producing nitric acid from synthetic ammonia
was put into operation in 1928. 6/ Although it is not so stated in
the published information, it is believedthat the plant referred to
was the Fauser ammonia oxidation installation at the Chernorech'ye.
Chemical Combine imeni Kalinin near Dzerzhinsk. By the end of 1932,
three more plants producing nitric acid by the oxidation of ammonia
are known to have been put into operation. Two of these plants were
installed by a US company: one at the Chernorechtye Chemical Combine
imeni Kalinin near Dzerzhinsk, with an annual nitric acid capacity of
about 16,500 tons) and another at Shostka, with an annual capacity of
about 8,250 tons. Aided by foreign technologists and equipment, a
third, with an annual capacity of about 18,000 tons, was put into
operation at the Berezniki plant in April 1932. In addition, an in-
stallation producing about 3,000 tons per year of nitric acid, prob-
ably by the sodium nitrate iDrocess, is believed to have been operating
in 1932 at the Okhtenskiy plant in Leningrad. Other plants producing
small quantities of nitric acid may have been in operation during the
period 1928-32, but further information is lacking. The total annual
capacity of the nitric acid plants in operation at the end of 1932
probably was about 55,000 to 65)000 tons. The actual production of
nitric acid in 1932, however, probably was only about 20,000 to 30,000
tons because the three largest plants, representing about 70 percent
of the capacity, were not put into operation until sometime during
that year.
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e. Second Five Year Plan (1933-37). ?
During the period of the Second Five Year Plan (1933-37),
the substantial investment made by the USSR in its synthetic nitro-
gen industry began to show results. Projects initiated during the
period of the First Five Year Plan (1928-32) were brought to comple-
tion, mainly with the help of foreign technology and equipment, and
large nitric acid plants were put into operation at Stalinogorsk,
Gorlovka, and Dneprodzerzhinsk. In addition, 'the capacities of the
existing plants at Dzerzhinsk and Berezniki were increased consider-
ably by the installation of additional production equipment. A
number of smaller units for the production Of nitric acid undoubtedly
were installed during this period at plants producing explosives and
dyes, but information concerning the dates of installation of these
smaller units is almost entirely lacking. The total annual capacity
of the Soviet nitric acid plants operating at the end of 1937 is
estimated at about 300,000 tons. The production of nitric acid in
1937 is not known, however, and cannot be estimated accurately,
because of the lack of information concerning the operations of the
new plants and the new units at the existing plants. In view of the
large capacity centered in new plants which undoubtedly were still
attempting to overcome production difficulties in 1937, it is doubted
that production exceeded 50 percent of the total installed capacity.
d. Third Five Year Plan (1938-42).
With respect to nitric acid, the Third Five Year Plan
(1938-42) stated only: ft ... the production of nitric acid is to
be increased considerably, and ... work will be carried out on the
production of strong nitric acid, avoiding the use of sulfuric
acid." With respect to the nitrogen industry as a whole, the Third
Five Year Plan stated: "In the nitrogen industry, the disproportion
existing between basic and processing departments will be eliminated;
the construction of the first section of the Chirchik Nitrogen Ferti-
lizer Plant and other plants carried over from the Second Five Year
Plan will be completed. The construction of the Baku plant and of
two or three new nitrogen fertilizer plants is progressing."*
There is no indication that the plant at Baku was ever built.
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ommii
The first section of a plant for the production of syn-
thetic ammonia, nitric acid, and nitrogen fertilizers was put into
operation at Kemerovo in 1938. The annual nitric acid capacity of
this first section is estimated to have been 4ol000 to 45,000 tons.
A smaller unit manufacturing nitric acid also is believed to have
been put into operation at the Aleksin Chemical Combine No. 100 in
1938. The capacity of this unit is not known, but estimates of
propellant and explosives production indicate that it probably did
not exceed 10,000 tons of nitric acid per year. In late 1940, as
envisioned in the Third Five Year Plan, the first section of the
Chirohik Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant was put into operation. The ni-
tric acid capacity of this first section is believed to have been
about 500 to 600 tons per day of weak acid, equivalent to about
100,000 to 120,000 tons* per year of 100 percent nitric acid. Other
smaller plants undoubtedly were put ito operation in the period
from 1938 to 1940, but further information is lacking.
A survey of the information concerning the nitric acid
plants reported to be in operation in ,1940,** the last full year of
operation before the German invasion,/indicates that the total Soviet
nitric acid capacity in that year probably wasabout 460,000 tons.
. Based on this estimate of capacity, the production of nitric acid in
/the USSR in 1940 probably was about 400,000 tons. The production of
concentrated nitric acid in the USSR in 1940 was
to have been 232,000 tons, 7/ or about 225,000 tonsxxx of
100 percent nitric acid. Based on a total 1940 estimated produc-
tion of 400,000 tons of 100 percent nitric acid and a concentrated
nitric acid production of 232,000 tons, the weak acid production in
1940 was about 318,000 tons, equivalent to about 175,000 tons of
100 percent nitric acid. Most of this weak acid probably was con-
verted to ammonium nitrate for admixture with high explosives such
as TNT and picric acid. The outbreak of the war with Germany in
mid-1941 brought an abrupt end to Soviet plans for industrial ex-
pansion under the Third Five Year Plan.
e. World War II (1941-45).
The penetration of the German armies in 1941 and 1942
caused the destruction or evacuation of the nitric acid plants at
* Based on an.acid strength of 55 percent nitric acid by weight.
** Excluding the Chirchik plant, which was not put into operation\
until November 1940 and did not contribute significantly to the total
1940 output.
*** Based on an acid strength of 97 percent nitric acid by ,JEOht.
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to this hypothesis. All things considered, it is probable that the
total production of nitric acid in the USSR in 1943 was about 400,000
tons of 100 percent acid.
In early 1944 the second section of the Chirchik plant,
having an estimated catecity of about 6o,000 tons of nitric acid
per year, was put into/ operation. An additional section of the
Chernorech'ye Chemical Combine imeni Kalinin near Dzerzhinsk, having
an estimated yearly capacity of about 35,000 to 40,000 tons, also
is believed to have been put into operation in 1944. It appears
from these estimates that the production of nitric acid in the USSR
probably reached about 500,000 tons in 1945 and that about 400,000
tons of this total probably was produced as concentrated nitric acid.
In spite of the strenuous efforts made, by the USSR dur-
ing World War II to increase the production of nitric acid, a critical
shortage of this chemical probably would have been experienced had it
not been for the aid furnished td the USSR under Lend-Lease Under
Lend-Leasel sometime during the period from 1941 to 1945, the USSR
received a complete nitric-acid-manufacturing plant with a capacity
of 30 tons per day of nitric acid. lat In addition, the USSR
received large quantities of ammunition, smokeless powder, TNT,
dynamite, and other high explosivesLammonium nitrate; colloxylin;
aniline and chemicals derived from aniline; lacquers; and cellulose
film base. 12/ The nitric acid/equivalent tontained in these products
shibped to the USSR is estimated to have been about 250,000 to 300,000
tons, which was approximately equal to the entire 'production of nitric
acid in the USSR in 1942.
Fourth Five Year Plan (1946-50). .
The Fourth Five Year Plan (1946-50). gave no information
concerning Soviet plans for the production of nitric acid. Further-
more, the yearly and quarterly reports concerning fulfillment of the
plans during this period, as well as the report concerning fulfillment
of the Fourth' Five Year Plan, did not reveal anything' with respect to
Soviet production of this chemical.
Accurate estimates of the annual production of nitric
acid in the USSR during the immediate postwar years cannot be made
from studies of plant operations, because of insufficient informa-
tion concerning the plants, many of which were undergoing extensive
rehabilitation and expansion during this period.. 'By 1950, however,
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the restoration of the industry was almost completed, and production
from installed facilities probably was approaching a peak. A survey
of the plant information indicates that the output of nitric acid in
the USSR in 1950 was about 1,035,000 tons, or in the range of 900,000
to 10100,000 tons. Estimates of Soviet production of nitric acid for
the years 1946 through 1949 have been established by means of inter-
polation and are presented in Table 1.*
g. Fifth Five Year Plan (1951-55).
The Fifth Five Year Plan (1951-55) did not give any direct
information concerning Soviet plans for the expansion of the nitric
acid industry.** By analyses of the plant information, however, the
production of nitric acid in 1951 is estimated at 1,065,000 tons, an
increase of about 30)000 tons over 1950 output. It is believed that
this increased output was effected principally by putting new capa-
city into operation at the Dneprodzerzhinsk plant.
In 1952 an estimated additional production of 107,000 tons
of nitric acid was realized by putting the new plants at Severo Donetsk
and Kirovakan into operation and by improving the operating efficiency
of the new unit at Dneprodzerzhinsk, thus raising the.output in 1952
to an estimated.11172,000 tons:
The output of nitric acid in the USSR in 1953 will amount
to an estimated 1,195,000 tons, an increase of about 23,000 tons over
Table 1 follows on p. 15.
?x-x- One provision of the Fifth Five Year Plan might be construed as
indirect evidence of Soviet plans for the expansion of the nitric
acid industry. The Plan provides "for an expansion in the production
capacities of ammonia and mineral fertilizers." The Plan also states
that the goal for the production of mineral fertilizers in 1955 is an
88-percent increase over 1950 output. If it is assumed from this
statemeht that the production of nitrogen fertilizers,which represents
about one-third of the production of mineral fertilizers, will follow
a similar pattern and increase about 88 percent, then it can probably
be assumed that about the Same percentage increase is planned for the
production of nitric acid. An 88-percent increase over the estimated
1950 production of nitric acid would amount to about 1,950,000 tons,
or in the range from 1,690,000 to 2,070,000 tons, which might be
tentatively regarded as the Soviet goal for production of nitric acid
in 1955.
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? ? ? ? ?
1952 production. Practically all of this increased output probably
will be supplied by. the new plants at Severo Donetsk and Kirovakan,
Production of nitric acid in 19514. and 1955 cannot be esti-
mated with any certainty from the point of view of plant operations.
Additional production may be realized from improved operations and
increased capacity at the Severo Donetsk and Kirovakan plants. The
plants reported as under construction at Rustavi and Rion in the
Georgian SSR and at Gubakha in the Ural Mountains are also potential,
but definitely uncertain, sources of new production In view of
these uncertainties regarding Soviet production of/nitric acid for
the years beyond 1953, estimates of output for 1954 and 1955 have
been established by means of mathematical extrapolation. The extra-
polation Indicates that Soviet production of nitric acid in1954 and
1955 will level off at about 1,211,000 tons.
The production of 1,211,000 tons, estimated for 1954 and
1955, is considered a fairly low estimate of production. If all or
a substantial part of the potential sources of new nitric acid out-
put should be put into opermtion in the period - 1953-55, then it is
prcibable that the 1955 estimate of 1,211,000 tons, which was derived
by mathematical extrapolation, will be exceeded.
SummArizing the production data contained in the fore-
going pagesx_the estimated output of nitric acid in the USSR in
selected years from 1913 to 3.955 is given in Table 1.
The growth of nitric acid production in the USSR from
1932 to 1955 is illustrated in the accompanying chart.*
2. Comparison of Soviet Production of Nitric Acid with US
Production.
For the purpose of comparison, the production of nitric
acid in the USSR and In the US in 1947-51 is given in Table 2.**
3. Regional Distribution of Production.
The estimated output of nitric acid in each of the economic
regions of the USSR in 1953 is given in Table 3.***
Following p. 16.
Table 2 follows on p. 16.
Table 3 follows on p. 16,
***
**X-
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Table 1
Estimated Production of Nitric Acid in the USSR
Selected Years, 1913-55
Tons
Weak
Concentrated
Total
Probable Range
Year
Nitric Acid 2/
Nitric Acid 12/
Nitric Acid 2/
of Estimate
1913
N.A.
N.A.
2,872
1916
N.A.
N.A.
11,727
1932
N.A.
N.A.
25,000
20,000 to 30,000
1937
N.A.
N.A.
150,000
100,000 to 200,000
19)40--
318,000
232,000
400,000
325,000 to 425,000
1942
102,000
252,000
300,000
250,000 to 350,000
1943
123,000
342,000
400;000
350,000 to 450,000
1945
N.A.
N.A.
500,000
400,000 to 525,000
1946
N.A.
N.A.
605,000
500,000 to 64o,000
1947
N.A.
N.A.
710,000
600,000 to 755,000
1948
N.A.
N.A.
820,000
700,000 to 870,000
1949
N.A.
N.A.
930,000
800,000 to 990,000
1950
N.A.
N.A.
1,035,000
900,000 to 1,100,000
1951
N.A.
N.A.
1,065,000
930,000 to 1,130,000
1952
N.A.
N.A.
1,172,000
1,000,000 to 1,200,000
1953
N.A.
N.A.
1,195,000
1,025,000 to 1,225,000
1954
N.A.
N.A.
1,211,000
1,040,000 to 1,260,000
1955
N.A.
N.A.
1,211,000
1,040,000 to 1,300,000
a. The production figures in this column
55 percent nitric acid by weight.
b. The production figures in this column
about 97 percent nitric acid by weight.
c. The production figures in this column
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are
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based
based
based
on,an acid strength of
on an acid strength of
on 100 percent nitric acid.
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? ? ? ? ? ?
Table 2
Estimated Production of Nitric Acid in the USSR
As Compared with US Production 2/
1947-51
Year
,Soviet Production
? (Tons)
1947
710,000
1948
820,000
1949
930,000
1950
1,0351000
1951
1,065,000
Table 3
Estimated Production of Nitric Acid in the USSR by Economic Regions
1953
Economic-Region
Amount
.(Tons)
Percent of Total
Northwest . 3,000 0.2
Ukraine i 328,000 27.5
Transcapcasus 50,000' 4.2
Volga 30,000 2.5
Central European USSR 289,100 24.2
Urals 160,000 13.4
West Siberia 85,000 7.1
Central Asia 2451000 20.5
Far East 5,000 0.4
Total
1,195,100
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1000
400
200
0
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ESTIMATED PRODUCTION
NITRIC ACID IN THE
1932-55
100 Percent Basis
OF
USSR
?
CIA
Probable
No
Estimate 1945-55
Range of Estimate
Estimate
Series ?
/ 1
/
/ / /-,......
/ /
/ / //
/ / /
,
-
/
--------
I
...---
--- --
1
--L1 /
- --
1)/
-----
1 1 1 1
I I
I
1
1
1
_
1 1
I 1 1
1932
1935
1940
1945
1950
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4. Location and Estimated Production of Plants.
The location and estimated production
in the USSR are 'given in Table 4. Studies, of
,lations,outlining the information .f.nd methods
the estimates of output, are attached to this
Table 4
of nitric acid plants
each of these instal-
used in arriving at
report in Appendix A.
Location and Estimated Production of Nitric Acid Plants
In the USSR 2/*
1952-53
Tons
Production
Economic Region and City
Plant
1952
1953
Northwest
Leningrad
Okhtenskiy Chemical Combine
3,000
3,000
Leningrad
Krasnyy Khimik Chemical Plant
N.A.
N.A .
Ukraine
.8ergo Ordzhonikidze Nitrogen --
Gorlovka
Fertilizer Plant
77,000
77,000
Dneprodzerzhinsk
Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant-
180,000
180,000
Petrovenka
Petrovskiy Explosives Plant
6,000
6,000
Severo Donetsk
N.A.
39,000
50,000
ShostkEi
Powder Plant
7,500
7,500
Stalino
Karpov Nitrating Plant ,
7,500
7,500
Transcaucasus
Kirovakan
Electrochehical Plant -
38,000
50l000
Footnote for Table 4 follows on p: 19.
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Table 4
Location and Estimated Production of Nitric Acid Plants
in the USSR
1952-53
(Continued)
?
Tons
Economic Region and City
Plant
Production
1952
1953
Volga
Bondyuzhskiy
Karpov Chemical Plant
N.A.
Kazan'
Lenin Powder Plant
30,000 '
30,000
Central European USSR
Aleksin
Chemical Combine
10,000
/
10,000
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Dzerzhinsk
Chernorech'ye Chemical
Combine imeni Kalinin
65,000
65,000
Kineshma
Frunze Chemical
Plant
13,000
13,000
, 50X1
Moscow
Ugreshskiy Chemical
Plant
2,500
2,500
Moscow
Dorogomilov-Frunze Chemical
Plant 3,400
3,400
?
Moscow
Voykov Chemical
Plant
1,700
1,700
Roshal'
Kbsyakov Powder
Plant
10,500
10,500
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Shchelkovo
Shchelkovo"Chemical
Plant
18,000
18,000
Stalinogorsk
Stalin Chemical Combine
150,000
150,000
Tambov
Krasnyy
Bolshevik Powder
Plant
15,000
15,000
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Urals
Berezniki
Voroshilov Chemical Combine 160,000
160,00d
Zakamsk
Chemical Plant N.A.
N.A.
West Siberia
Kemerovo
Nitrogen Fertilizer Combine,' 85,000
85,000
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Table 4
Location ;and Estimated Production of Nitric Acid Plants
in the USSR a/
1952,53
(Continued)
Tons
Economic Region and City
Central Asia
Chirchik
Far East
Plant
_ Production
1952 1953
Stalin Electrochemical Combine,- 245,000 245,000
Kuybyshevka- Powder Plant 5,000 5,000
Vostochnaya
Total
11172,100 1,195,100
a. Nitric acid plants have been reported at the following locations as under
construction, as planned, or as in operation, but production at these plants
has not been confirmed: Rubezhnoye in the Ukraine; Derbent and Kamensk in the
Lower Don-North Caucasus; Rion and Rustavi in the Transcaucasus; Dzerzhinsk
and Voskresensk in Central European USSR; Chelyabinsk, Gubakha, Kyshtym,
Magnitogorsk, Neyvo-Rudyanka, Nizhniy Tagil, Shaytanka, and Zlatoust in the
Urals; Shorsu in Central Asia; and Vladivostok in the Far East.
StQckpiling.
Although information on Soviet practice is lacking, it can be
stated with near certainty that nitric acid is not stockpiled in the
USSR. Such large quantities of nitric acid are used in wartime that
prohibitive amounts of stainless steel or aluminum alloy tankage would
be required for the stockpiling of a significant quantity of this cor-
rosive acid. The more convenient practice, and the one undoubtedly
followed in the USSR, is that of stockpiling the finished and semi-
finished products such as filled munitions, high explosives, and am-
monium nitrate.
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6. Trade.
No information is available concerning Soviet trade in nitric
acid either with other Soviet Bloc or with non-Bloc countries. Al-
though information is lacking, trade in nitric acid on a small scale
between the USSR and other Bloc countries is possible, but the quan-
tity of nitric acid involved in any such trade would be insignificant
relative to Soviet production.
7. Total Supply.
In view of the probable nonexistence of a stockpile of nitric
acid in the USSR as well as the absence of significant trade, the
total supply of nitric acid available to the USSR in 1953 will be
about equal to the estimated production: that is, 1,195,000 tons.
IV. Input Requirements.
According to's. recent Soviet publication, the raw materials and
electric power required for the manufacture of 1 ton of nitric acid
by the atmospheric pressure process and by the elevated Pressure
process are as follows IV:
1. Atmospheric Pressure Process.
Ammonia
Platinum Catalyst
Cooling Water
Steam
Electrical Energy
Amount
290 to 300 kilograms
0.05 to 0.06 grams
70 to 120 cubic meters
100 to 120 kilograms
80 to 100 kilowatt-hours
2. Elevated Pressure Process.
Ammonia
Platinum Catalyst
Cooling Water
Steam
Electrical Energy
Amount
290 to 300 kilograms /
0.15 to 0.20 grams
90 to 170 cubic meters'
190 to 600 kilograms /
340 to 500 kilowatt-hours
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Soviet production of nitric acid in 1953 is estimated at about
1,195,000 tons, but the proportionate production by the atmospheric
ad elevated pressure processes is not known. Therefore, in order
to calculate the raw material requirements from the consumption
coefficient data given above, it is necessary to use consumption
coefficients which represent averages of the values given for each
process. Based on the data given, the average consumption coef-
ficients for the manufacture of 1 ton of nitric acid in the USSR
are as follows:
Ammonia
Platinum Catalyst
Cooling Water
Steam
Electrical Energy
Amount
290 to 300 kilograms
0.10 to 0.13 grams
80 to 145 cubic meters
145 to 360 kilograms
210 to 300 kilowatt-hours
These average raw material consumption coefficients have been
Used in computing the raw material requirements for the manufacture
of an estimated 1,195,000 tons of nitric acid in the USSR in 1953.
The results are given in Table 5.
Table 5
Raw Material Requirements for the Manufacture
of Nitric Acid in the USSR
1953
Raw Material
Ammonia
Platinum Catalyst
Cooling Water
Steam
Electrical Energy
Amount
346,000 to 358,000 tons
120 to 155 kilograms
96 to 173 million cubic
meters
173,000 to 430,000 tons
250 to 360 million kilowatt-
hours
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V. Consumption.
Soviet requirements for nitric acid in 1953 cannot be estimated,
because of the complete lack of information regarding the magnitude
of explosives production, because estimates of Soviet nitrogenous
fertilizer production are somewhat controversial, and because the
available information does not permit calculation of the nitric acid
requirements for the manufacture of chemicals and for many miscel-
laneous uses. In lieu of requirements, Table 6 gives the probable
consumption of nitric acid, by broad category of use, in the USSR
in 1953.
Table 6
Estimated Consumption of Nitric Acid in the USSR 2/
1953
Amount
Use (Tons) Percent of Total
Nitrogenous Fertilizers
700,000
58.5
Explosives (Industrial
and Military)
400,0oo
33.5
Other
95,000
8.0
Total 1,195,000 100.0
a. The methods used in arriving at these estimates
are presented in Appendix B.
VI. Capabilities, Vulnerabilities, and Intentions.
1. Capabilities.
The supply of nitric acid available to the USSR in 1953 is
estimated at 1,195,000 tans (probable range: 1,025,000 to,a1225,000
tons), equivalent to about 44 percent of UB 1951 production. Although
Soviet requirements for nitric acid in 1953 are not known, this
amount should be ample to meet the requirements for explosives, to
fill all industrial demands, and, in addition, to make hundreds
of thousands of tons of nitrogenous fertilizers. In the event of
a general war in the near future, much of that nitric acid which
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is allocated for the production. of ammonium nitrate would be con-
centrated and reallocated for the manufacture of high explosives
und smokeless powder and for use as rocket fuel oxidiZer? although
this latter requirement would be small relative to the total mili-
tary requirement. In addition, practically all of the remaining
production of ammonium nitrate delivered tO agriculture for use
as fertilizer would be reallocated to the explosives industry for
admixture with TNT, picric acid, hexogen, and other high explosives.
If the effects of wartime destruction are ignored, the output of
nitric acid iii the USSR is sufficient to sustain a prolonged mili-
tary effort of major proportions.. This conclusion appears to be
justified when it is considered that the Peak annual production of
nitric acid in the USSR during World War II was only about one-
-third as large as the estimated 1953 output.
3. Intentions.
Since 1928 the USSR has placed great emphasis on the develop-
ment Of the nitrogen industry, and the output of this industry in
1953, relative to US production, is greater than the output of any
other branch of the Soviet chemical industry. The Soviet intention
here is quite clear. During peacetime, practically unlimited supplies
of ammonia and nitric acid, in the form of ammonium nitrate, can be -
applied to the soil as fertilizer. In the event of war, these ?
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supplies can be diverted quickly and easily to the manufacture of
military explosives. The continued emphasis placed on the expansion
of the industry by the USSR indicates an acute awareness of the
necessity for having a large explosives production potential as soon
as possible.
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APPENDIX A
NITRIC ACID PLANTS IN THE USSR
I. Plants on Which There Is Reliable Information.
1. Okhtenskiy Chemical Combine. 16/
a. Location. Leningrad, Leningrad Oblast (Northwest Ia).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 3,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. listed nitric
acid as one of the products of this plant and stated that the 1932
plan for production was 3,000 tons. This plant probably was destroyed
during World War II. Although no postwar information is available)
reconstruction to prewar status is assumed.
2. .Krasnyy Khimik (Red Chemist) Chemical Plant. 17/
a. Location. Leningrad, Leningrad Oblast (Northwest, Ia).
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric AcicL Not
b. Coordinates.
Available.
, -
d. Comment, production
of nitric acid at this plant. Postwar production of nitric acid
Quantitatively, the production
is not known but is believed to be small, since this plant is not a
producer of synthetic ammonia.
3. Sergo Ordzhonikidze Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant. 18/
a. Location. Gorlovka, Stalino Oblast (Ukraine, III).
b?. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 77,000 tons
per year for 1952-53,
d. Comment.
the existence of four towers which are probably nitric acid
absorption columns. estimate the diameter of these
columns at 8 meters and the height at 15 to 16 meters. The 'estimates
are probably in error because a tower of these dimensions would be
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too wide for its height. Assuming,- however, that the dimensions
given are approximately correct, the cubic capacity of each absorp-
tion column is about 26,500 cubic feet, and thetotal volume of the
absorption system is about 26,500 x 4, or 106,000 cubic feet. If
it is further assumed that the absorption is carried out under
slight pressure, then about 397 cubic feet of absorption volume
would be required for the produCtion of 1 ton of nitric acid per day,
and the total capacity 9f the plant for the manufacture of nitric
acid would amount to ?0,000, or about 267 tons per day.
397
an installation described as follows:
"8 or 10 heated catalyzer vessels, each
of about 1.5 .meters in diameter and about
3 meters high, the catalyzers being on
wire mesh."
The reference here is obviously to nitric acid converters. With re-
spect to nitric acid converters, a book recently published in the
USSR concerning the technology of nitric acid states the following:
"The most widely used apparatuses (con-
verters) have a diameter of 1.1, and.
2 meters, more rarely 2.8 meters ... .
The, productive capacity of apparatuses
_(converters) with a diameter of 1.1 meters
amounts to 2.5 to 3 tons of ammonia oxi-
dized per 24 hours, and at a diameter of
2 meters amounts to 6 to lo tons per
24 hours."
If it is assumed that the 8 or 10 converters are actually
2 meters in diameter instead of the 1.5 meters reported, that each of
these converters is operated at atmospheric pressure, and that each
has the capacity for oxidizing an average of 8 tons of amMonia per
24 hours, then the capacity of this plant amounts to 64 to 8o tons of
ammonia oxidized per 24 hours, which is equivalent to a nitric acid
capacity of about 192 to 21.1.0 tons per day.
It appears, therefore, based on the information concerning
the oxidation and absorption systems of this plant, that the nitric
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acid capacity amounts to about 240 to 267 tons per day, or to about
90,000 tons per year. Assuming that 1952_production was about
35 percent of installed capacity, the output of nitric acid at this
plant in 1952 amounted to an estimated 77,000 tons. No increase of
production is estimated for 1953.
4. Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant. 19/
a. Location. Dneprodzerzhinsk, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast
?(U177-giEe, III).
b. Coordinates
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 180,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. The existence of a considerable amount of con-
flicting information regarding both the nitric-acid-processing equip-
ment and the production of ammonium nitrate at this plant complicates
any attempt at an accurate estimate of nitric acid production. For
example, that the ammonia oxidation equipment in
1949 consisted of 0 c nverters, each 2.5 meters in diameter, whereas
the existence of 10 converters, each about
3 meters in diameter. Regarding the absorption system,
9 absorption columns were installed and that only 6 were
operating during the period of; Observation in 1948 and 1949.
estimate the height of the columns at 25 to
30 meters and the diameter at 6 to 8 meters. Although the differences
in these estimates are apparently small, they result in a considerable
variation in the estimates of nitric acid capacity based on the cal-
culation of oxidation and absorption volumes.
Therefore, in order to arrive at an estimate of nitric
acid production, it is necessary to make certain assumptions which
appear to be in conformit with he ations of this plant
If it is assumed that the ammonia oxidation system con-
sists of 20 converters, each with an interior diameter of 2 meters,
then the capacity of each converter would be about 30 tons per day
of nitric acid. The capacity of the plant, therefore) would be
about 20 x 30, or 600 tons per day of nitric acid, which corresponds
to a yearly capacity of about 219,000 tons. If it is further
assuMed that each of the 9 absorption columns is 6 meters in di-
ameter and 25 meters high and that the absorption is carried out
under slight pressure, then about 397 cubic feet of absorption
volume would be required per daily ton of nitric acid, and the
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capacity of the plant would be about 567 tons of nitric acid per
day, which corresponds to a yearly capacity of about 207,000 tons.
Assuming that 1952 production was about 85 percent of capacity, .
the production of nitric acid .at this plant in 1952 probably was
about 175,000 to 185,000 tons..
This estimate is substantiated to some extent by
estimates of ammonium nitrate production during 19
and 1949. Although these estimates vary from 125 tons to 1,000 tons
per day, most of the estimates place the production of ammonium
nitrate during 1948 and 1949 in the range of 300 to 400 tons per
day. There also is substantial agreement
that only 6 of the 9 installed nitric acid absorption
columns were operating at this time. A production of 300 to 400 tons
per day of ammonium nitrate would necessitate a nitric acid produc-
tion of about 83,000 to 110,000 tons Der year solely for the manu-
facture of ammonium nitrate.
report the shipment of nitric acid from this plant. If it is assumed
that about 10,000 tons of nitric acid were being shipped out of this
plant annually during 1948 and 1949, then the total annual production
of nitric acid during this period probably was in the range from
93,000 to 120,000 tons. Therefore, a 50-percent increase in nitric
acid production, effected by putting the remaining 3 absorption columns
into operation, should have raised the production of nitric acid in
1952 to about 140,000 to 180,000 tons, which agrees fairly well with
the 175,000- to 185,000-ton production figure calculated from the
information concerning the installed oxidation and absorption equip- ,
ment.
5. Plant Name Not Available. 20/
a. Location. Severo Donetsk, Voroshilovgrad Oblast
?(U=71-e, III).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid.
? 39,000 tons in 1952; 50,000 tons in 1953.
d. Comment. A nitric acid plant was put into operation at
Severo Donetsk in January 1951. However, the synthetic ammonia plant
under construction in Severo Donetsk was not completed at that time,
and the ammonia for oxidation was being supplied by the Gorlovka
nitrogen fertilizer plant two large nitric acid
absorption columns Assuming that each
of these columns has a cubic capacity of 25,000 cubic feet and that
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the absorption is carried out under slight pressure, then about
397 cubic feet of absorption volume would be required for the
production of 1 ton of nitric acid per day and the daily capacity
of the plant for the manufacture of nitric acid would amount to
50,000, or 126 tons, corresponding to an annual capacity of about
397
46,000 tons. The production in 1951 undoubtedly was much lower
than the capacity, owing to the normal difficulties encountered
in the starting of a new plant. It is possible that this nitric
acid plant was operated only on a test basis in 1951 and that it
will not be put into full-scale production until the ammonia syn-
thesis section of the plant is completed. Although information
regarding completion of the ammonia synthesis section is lacking,
it is assumed, nevertheless, that in 1952 the nitric acid section
of this plant operated continuously on a production basis, producing
nitric acid from ammonia which was either produced by this plant or
shipped in from Gorlovka or from one of the other ammonia synthesis
plants. If it is assumed that production in 1952 amounted to 85 per-
cent of capacity, then the output of nitric acid at this plant in
1952 probably was about 39,000 tons.
It is probable that the USSR intends to expand the nitric
acid capacity of. this plant beyond 46,000 tons. If previous Soviet
practice in the construction of ammonia plants is used as an indi-
cator) the first section probably will have an annual capacity of
about 50,000 tons of nitrogen. Furthermore, in view of the military
importance of both nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, it is logical
to expect that-the USSR will install sufficient equipment for the
conversion of the entire nitrogen production to these two products.
If these assumptions are valid, then, after completion of the firSt.
section of the plant, the annual capacity for the production of
nitric acid and ammonium nitrate probably will be about 112,500 tons
and 143)000 tons, respectively. Assuming that the expansion of this
plant will continue, it is estimated that the production of nitric.
acid in 1953 will be about 50,000 tons.
6. Powder Plant. 21/
a. Location. Shostka, Sumy Oblast (Ukraine, III).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 7,500 tons
per year for 1952.-53.
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d. Comment. During the period from 1930 to 1932 a US
company installed a plant at Shostka for the production of nitric
acid. This plant consisted Of 2 units for the manufacture of
60 percent nitric acid by the oxidation of ammonia. Each unit
consisted of 2 absorption towers and 1 converter. Each of these
units had a designed capacity of 11.3 tons of 100 percent nitric
acid per day. Thus the total capacity of the plant was 22.6 tons
per day, or about 8,250 tons per year of 100 percent nitric acid.
All of the 60 percent acid produced was concentrated and used for
the manufacture of explosives. At the time this plant Was put
into operation in 1932, the ammonia used for oxidation was supplied
by the Berezniki plant. 'The Shostka nitric acid and powder plant'
was in the area occupied by the German armies in World War II and
undoubtedly was destroyed. Although postwar information is lacking,
it is assumed that this plant has been restored to its former
capacity and that it produced about 7,500 tons of nitric acid in
1952. No change of production is estimated for 1953..
7. Petrovskiy Explosives Plant. 22/
a. Location. Petrovenka, Voroshilovgrad Oblast
(Ukraine, III).
b. Coordinates. 50X1
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 6,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. 50X1
the production of nitric acid at this plant. This installation was
destroyed during World War II and restored in 1946. Postwar informa-
tion reports the production of gunpowder in 1947 at 9 tons per day
?and explosive bars in 1948 at 20 to 24 tons per day. Based on this
-information, the production of nitric acid in 1947 and 1948 probably
was about 6l000 tons per year. It is assumed that this plant operated
in 1952 and produced about 6,000 tons of nitric acid. No change of
production id estimated for 1953.
8. Karpov Nitrating Plant. 23/
a. Location. Stalino. Stalino Oblast (Ukraine III).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 7,500 tons
per year for 1952-53.
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d. Comment.- Information published by the USSR states that
this plant had the following features:
"According to the method of I.I. Andreev, at
the end of 1916 in Yuzokva (Stalind), the
first factory producing nitric acid from
ammonia was constructed. Ammonia, obtained
from the ammonia water of the coke-benzol
plants, served as the raw material for the
production of nitric acid. The ammonia was
oxidized on platinum gauze under atmospheric
pressure in small cast iron contact appara-
tuses of cylindrical shape (diameter 300 milli-
meters). The apparatuses had a small produc-
tive capacity and gave a low yield of nitric
oxide. The nitrose gases leaving the contact
apparatuses were cooled in spray coolers made
of ferrosilicon. The oxides of nitrogen were
absorbed in water in small granite towers with
a diameter of 3 meters and a height of 12 to
15 meters."
Other information published by the USSR concerning this
plant states that it had a capacity of 10,000 tons per year of
ammonium nitrate, which corresponds to a nitric acid capacity of
about 7,900 tons per year. The installation was destroyed during
World War II, but a chemical reagents price and procurement list
published by the USSR indicated that it was again in operation in
1946. It is assumed that this plant was restored to its prewar
capacity and that it produced about 7,500 tons of nitric acid in
1952. No change of production is estimated for 1953.
9. Electrochemical Plant. 24/
a. Location. Kirovakan, Armenian SSR (Transcaucasus, V).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 38,000 tons
in 1952; 50,000 tons in 1953.
d. Comment. The construction of a synthetic ammonia, nitric
acid, and ammonium nitrate plant was begun here after World War II,
probably sometime during 1946. The construction of this plant
lagged, and the plant was not operating at the
end of 1949. it is estimated that
this plant was put into operation about January 1952.
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an installation consisting of
18 pieces of apparatus which are undoubtedly electrolytic oxygen-
hydrogen cells of the filter-press type produced by Bamag-Meguin
Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin, Germany.
they are probably
Bamag C-500 cells, or Soviet copies of the Bamag cell, which pro-
duces about 500 cubic meters of hydrogen per hour. In 24 hours,
the entire installation of 18 cells could produce about 216,000 cubic
meters of hydrogen. Assuming a 10-percent loss of gas volume through
leaks and through the loss of unconverted gases when purging the
system of argon) about 2,340 cubic meters of hydrogen are required
for each ton of ammonia manufactured.z, Therefore, from a production
of 216,000 cubic meters of hydrogen per day, about 92 tons of ammonia
can be manufactured per day. From these data, it appears that the
Kirovakan plant has a capacity for the manufacture of about 92 tons
of ammonia per day, or about 33,000 to 34,000 tons per year. Since
1952 was the first year of operation for this plant, the total produc-
tion for the year probably did not exceed 60 percent of capacity, or,
about 20)000 tons of ammonia'.
In view of the importance of both nitric acid and ammonium
nitrate. to the Soviet military and industrial economies, it is probable
that this plant has the capacity to convert all of its ammonia produc-
tion to these two products. If such is the case, this plant probably
has a capacity for the production of about 60,000 to 65,000 tons of
nitric acid and 75,000 to 80,000 tons of ammonium nitrate per year.
Another method of estimating the nitric acid capacity of
this plant was an installation
consisting of 7 columns fitted with Raschig rings. These columns are
probably nitric acid absorption columns.
Assuming that the absorption is carried out under slight
pressure, the absorption volume required per daily ton of nitric
acid will amount to about 397 cubic feet. If each of these columns
is 20 meters high by 3 meters in diameter, the total absorption volume
of the system is 34,800 cubic feet, and the capacity of the plant is
approximately 32,000 tons of nitric acid per year. If, however,, these
columns are each 18 meters high by 3.6 meters in diameter, the capa-
city of the plant is about 41,500 tons of nitric acid-per year. Both
of these estimates appear to be low in relation to the estimate of
ammonia capacity derived from the information concerning the electro-
lytic oxygen-hydrogen cells. This is understandable when it is
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realized that a small difference in the estimated size of the absorp-
tion columns results in a significant difference in the calculated
capacity of the plant. For example, if the diameter Of each column
was actually 4 meters instead Of the estimated 3.6 meters, and the
height was 20 meters instead of 18 meters, the capacity of the plant
would.be about 56,500 tong instead of 41,500 tons. It appears,
therefore, that the estimate of nitric acid capacity derived from
the information concerning the hydrogen-producing equipment may be
more reliable than the estimates derived from the absorption column
information, and, until further information is received, the nitric
acid capacity of this plant is estimated at about 60,000 tons per
year. Based on an estimated ammonia production of 20,000 tons in
1952, and assuming that all of the ammonia was converted to ammonium
nitrate, the 1952 production of nitric acid at this plant is esti-
mated to have been about 38,000 tons. Production in 1953 is esti-
mated at about 50,000 tons.
10. Karpov Chemical Plant. 25/
a. Location. Bondvuzhski. Tatar ASSR 'Volga, VI).
b. Coordinates. 50X1
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. Not available.
d. Comment. 737Fiduction of ni- 50X1
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one of the products manufactured here. None of these reports, how-
ever, gives any clues to quantity of output, but the general tone
of the reports indicates that the production of nitric acid is
small.
11. Lenin Powder Plant. 26/
a. Location. Kazan', Tatar ASSR (Volga,
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 30,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. estimated production of
nitric acid at this plant during the early years of World War II
at 2,500 tons per month, equivalent to about 30,000 tons per year.
Although postwar information concerning the production of nitric
acid at this plant is entirely lacking, it is assumed that this
plant is operating and that its output in 1952 was substantially the
sane as estimated No change of production
is estimated for 1953.
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12. Chemical Combine
iplant was put into operation in 1938. It sustained only slight war
damage, but most of its important installations were evacuated to
eastern areas of the USSR. The reconstruction of the plant re-
portedly began in 1943, and the prendses were considerably expanded
during the following years. This is primarily an explosives plant,
and, a new nitric acid plant was installed
after World War II. Based on very tentative estimates of explosives
production, the output of nitric acid in 1952 and 1953 is estimated
at about 10,000 tons per year.
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Locatibn. Aleksin,
Tula Oblast (Central European
USSR, VII).
b.
Coordinates.
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Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid.
10,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d.
Comment. this
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13. Chernorechrye Chemical Combine imeni Kalinin. 28/
a. Location. Dzerzhinsk, Gortkiy Oblast (Central
European USSR. VII).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 65,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. An ammonia oxidation plant producing nitric
acid by the Fauser process from synthetic ammonia was erected in
Dzerzhinsk in 1928: In 1932 a US company installed another nitric
acid plant with a production of. 50 tons per day. Subsequent to
the US installation, another nitric acid plant was installed,
probably by the Bamag-Meguin firm of Germany, and the obsolete Fauser
unit is believed to have been dismantled. After the installation of,
the Bamag plant, the total monthly production is believed to have
been about 600 tons of nitrogen, equivalent to 2,700 tons of nitric
acid. It was reported that this plant was expanded during World
War II and that the expansion probably amounted to a doubling of
capacity, raising the production of nitric acid to about 5,400 tons .
per month, or 65,000 tons per year. there
is no evidence of further expansion of this plant, so that production
of nitric acid in 1952 and 1953 is estimated at 65,000 tons per year.
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14. Frunze Chemical Plant
29/
a. Location. Kineshma, Ivanovo Oblast (Central
European USSR, VII).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 13,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. listed nitric acid
as one of the products of this plant and stated that the yearly
capacity was reported as 15,000 tons. This plant probably suffered
no significant war damage, and, since it is not a producer of syn-
thetic ammonia, it is improbable that the nitric acid capacity has
been expanded. The production of nitric acid in 1952 and 1953 is
estimated at 85 percent of the reported capacity, or at about
13,000 tons.
15. Ugreshskly Chemical Plant. 30/
a. Location. Moscow,
USSR, VII).
b. Coordinates.
c.
Moscow Oblast (Central European
Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 2,500 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment.
nitric acid was one of the products of this plant before World War II.
the capacity of this plant for production
of nitric acid in 1940 was 3,000 tons per year. No postwar informa-
tion regarding this plant is available. Recognizing that it may have
been destroyed during the war, it is assumed that, if destroyed, it
has been restored to its prewar capacity and operated in 1952 and
1953, producing about 2,500 tons of nitric acid per year.
16. Dorogomilov-Frunze Chemical Plant. 31/
b.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric A 3,400 tons
per yearfor12
d. Comment. nitric
acid was one of the products of this plant before World War II.
Location. Moscow,
USSR, VII).
Coordinates.
Moscow Oblast (Central European
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the capacity of this plant for production of
nitric acid was 4,000 tons in 1940. No further information is
available, but, considering that this plant manufactured aniline,
dyes, and possibly other products requiring nitric acid, it is
probable that a small nitric acid plant was installed here.
Recognizing that this plant may have been destroyed during
World War II, it is assumed that, if destroyed, it has been re-
stored to its prewar capacity of about 4,000 tons and operated
in 1952 and 1953 at about 85 percent of capacity, producing an
estimated 3,400 tons of nitric acid per year.
17. Voykov (formerly Deguninskiy) Chemical Plant. 32/
a. Location. Moscow, Moscow Oblast (Central European
USSR, VII).
b. Coordinates:
c. Estimated Annual Production
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment.
production of nitrogenous fertilizers and technical nitrogenous
products at the Degunino Nitric Acid Factory. It is believed that
this reference is to the Deguninskiy plant in Moscow.
of Nitric Acid. 1,700 tons
the Deguninskiy and Voykov plants probably are the
same plant. estimated that the annual
nitric acid capacity of this plant in 1940 was 2,000 tons. It is
probable that this plant suffered at least some damage during World
War II. Although postwar information is lacking, it is assumed that,
if destroyed, it has been reconstructed to its former capacity and
operated in 1952 and 1953 at about 85 percent of capacity, producing
an estimated 1,700 tons of nitric acid per year.
18. Kosyakov Powder Plant
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a Location. Roshal', Moscow Oblast (Central European
USSR, VII).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 10,500 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. estimate
that the prewar production of nitric acid at this plant was about
10,500 tons. This plant may have been destroyed during World War II.
Although postwar information is lacking, it is assumed that, if
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destroyed, this plant has been restored to its former capacity and
operated in 1952 and 1953, producing about 10,500 tons of nitric
acid per year.
19. Shchelkovo Chemical Plant. 34/
a. Location. Shchelkovo, Moscow Oblat (Central European
USSR, VII).
b. Coordinates. 50X1
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 18,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. production of 50X1
nitric acid at this plant and stated that the planned production for
1941 was 18,000 tons. It is probable that this plant suffered at
least some destruction during World War II. Although postwar informa-
tion is lacking, it is assumed that this plant, if destroyed, has been
restored to its former capacity and operated in 1952 and 1953, pro-
ducing about 18,000 tons of nitric acid per year.
20. Stalin Chemical Combine. 12/
a. Location. Stalinogorsk,
European USSR, VII).
b. Coordinates.
c.
Moscow Oblast (Central
Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 150,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. This is one of the largest synthetic ammonia
and nitric acid plants in the USSR.
before World War II this plant had two sections
for the production of nitric acid, each with a capacity of about
100 tons per day, equivalent to a total nitric acid capacity of about
73,000 tons per year. Information published by the USSR in 1934
.indicated that three sections were originally intended for installa-
tion in this plant. During World War II, this plant was partially
destroyed and dismantled but was able to resume operation in late
1945 or early 1946. Postwar information is lacking, but in view of
the importance of nitric acid it is reasonable to assume that a
third section for the production of nitric acid has been installed
since the war. Considering the large capacity of this plant for
the production of synthetic ammonia, estimated to be in excess of
100,000 tons per Year, it is probable that the installed capacity
for production of nitric acid now exceeds 150,000 tons per year.
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The production of nitric acid at this plant in 1952 and 1953 is
estimated at 150,000 tons annually.
21. Krasnyy Bolshevik Powder Plant
a. Location. Tambov,
USSR, vii).
b. Coordinates.
c.
36/
Tathbov Oblast (Central European
Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 15,000 tons
?per year for 195253.
d. Comment. This plant is located about 6 miles SSW of?
Tatbov and sometimes is referred to as the Kotovsk Krasnyy Bolshevik
Powder Plant estimated that this plant
produced 7,000 tons of nitroglycerine and 81000 tons of nitrocellu-
lose per year during the early years of World War II, which would
require a nitric acid production of about 15,000 tons per year. The
production of explosive bricks also was reported, but these probably
were a dynamite-type explosive based on nitroglycerine, requiring no
additional nitric acid. Although this plant was beyond the line of
advance of the German armies, it is possible that it may have been
evacuated or may have suffered some bombing damage. Despite the
lack of postwar information, it is assumed that this plant, if damaged
or dismantledlhas been restored to its former capacity and operated
in 1952 and .1953, producing about 15,000 tons of nitric acid per year.
22. Voroshilov Chemical Combine. 37/
a. Location. Berezniki, Molotov Oblast (Urals, VIII).
b. Coordinates
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 160,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. The Soviet press reported that the production
of ammonium nitrate at this plant was 112,000 tons in 1946 and
35,000 tons in the first quarter of 1947. The production Of ammonium
nitrate for the entire year of 1947 is estimated, therefore, at about
140,000 tons, which would require a nitric acid production of about
114,000 tons, solely for the manufacture- of ammonium nitrate. This.
is ample evidence that the nitric acid capacity of this plant has
been increased since 1935, because the equipment installed in 1932
and 1935 reportedly had a combined capacity of about 90,000. to
100,000 tons per year. In addition, this plant undoubtedly produced
concentrated nitric acid and possibly other products derived from
nitric acid,. such as sodium nitrate, in 1947. Assuming that since
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1935 the nitric acid 'capacity of this plant has been doubled, the
capacity is now about 180,000 to 200,000 tons per year. Production
in 1952 and 1953 is estimated at 85 percent of capacity, or about
160,000 tons per year.
The plant reportedly had a capacity in 1935 for the
production of 200 tons per day of concentrated nitric acid. Assum-
ing that the capacity of the concentrating facilities also has been
doubled, the present capacity of this plant for production of con-
centrated nitric acid is about 400 tons per day, or 140,000 to
150,000 tons per year, which can be obtained at the expense of
ammonium nitrate output.
23. Chemical Plant. 38/
a. Location. ZakAmsk, Molotov Oblast (Urals, VIII).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. Not available.
d. Comment. production of nitric acid
at a chemical plant in the Zakamsk area. The chemical plant reportedly
is located near a powder factory and supplies the powder factory with
nitric acid and nitrate compounds. The available information concern-
ing these two installations is not sufficient to make a quantitative
estimate of production.
24. Nitrogen Fertilizer Combine. 39/
a. Location. Kemerovo, Kemerovo Oblast (West Siberia, IX).
b? Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 85,000 tons
per year for 1952.-51.
d. Comment.
the nitric acid capacity of this plan was ? ons o wea
acid per day in 1938. It is believed that the synthetic ammonia
capacity of this installation was subsequently doubled in 19410
and it is probable that the nitric acid capacity was increased
proportionately to about 480 tons of weak acid per day, equiva-
lent to about 264 tons per day, or 96,500 tons per year of nitric
acid, 100 percent basis.
Very little reliable postwar information regarding this
plant is'aIailable.
"four to six cylindrically shaped metal containers, each approxImaely
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20 meters high and 5. to 7 meters in diatIPter? interconnected by,
pipe's Assuming that these were nitric acid absorption
columns, each 6 meters in diameter by 20 meters high, and that
6 of these columns were installed, the total absorption volume
of. the system was about 120,000 cubic feet in September 1949,
the date of Observation. If the absorption is carried out under
slight pressure, about 397 cubic feet of absorption volume are
required per daily ton of nitric acid, and the capacity of the
plant is 120,0004 or about 300 tons per day, equivalent to about
397
110,000 tons per year of nitric acid. If, however, only 4 of
these columns were installed, the capacity of the plant would be
about 73,000 tons per year.
It appears, therefore, from the meager information
available, that the nitric acid capacity of this plant is about
100,000 tons per year, which seems to be in conformity with the
estimated synthetic ammonia capacity of about 70,000 to 75,000 tons
per year. The production of nitric acid in 1952 and 1953 is
estimated at 85 percent of capacity, or about 85,000 tons.
25. Stalin Electrochemical Combine. 40/
a. Location. Chirchik, Uzbek SSR, Tashkent Oblast
(Central Asia. Xb).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production of Nitric Acid. 245,000 tons
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment. The production of mineral fertilizer by the
Chirchik plant in 1941 was estimated at 90,000 tons. A Soviet
press statement in 1950 stated that the production of mineral ferti-
lizer at this plant increased almost 3-1/2 tines in 9 years. Thus
the rate of fertilizer production at the time of the press announce-
ment, January 1950, probably was about 300,000 tons per year.
Ammonium nitrate is believed to be the only mineral fertilizer pro-
duced by this plant in January 1950. The production of 300,000 tons
of ammonium nitrate would necessitate a nitric acid production of
about 245,000 tons. Based on this information and no indication of
expansion since 1950, the production of nitric acid at this plant
in 1952 and 1953 is estimated at 245,000 tons per year.
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of weak nitric acid was ut into operation in late 1940. Also
a second section was put into production
in 1944, but the capacity of the second section is not given. A
Soviet press statement in 1947 stated that the construction of a
third section of this plant had begun. If it is assumed that the
combined capacities of the second and third sections are equal to
the capacity of the first section, then the total capacity of the
plant is now about 1,200 tons of weak nitric acid per day, equiva-
lent to about 240,000 to 250,000 tons per year of nitric acid,
100 percent basis, which corresponds closely to the 245,000 tons
estimated as the thinual production in 1952 and 1953.
26. Powder Plant. Jul
a. Location. KUybyshevka-Vostochnaya, Amur Oblast
?(71iFfist, XII).
b. Coordinates.
c. Estimated Annual Production
per year for 1952-53.
d. Comment.
the production of nitric acid at this plant in addition to produc-
tion of smokeless powder and explosives.
an annual output (presumably in 1941 or 1942) of 6,300 tons
of bar 'powder. If it is assumed that the output of nitric acid at
this plantwas just sufficient to meet the plant's requirements, the
annual production in 1941 and 1942 was about 5,000 tons of nitric
acid. Although further information is lacking,- it is assumed that
this plant operated in 1952 and 1953, producing about 5,000 tons of
nitric acid per year.
of Nitric Acid.
5,000 tons
II. Plants on Which 'There Is Insufficient Information.
In addition to, the foregoing plants which are believed to be
producing nitric acid, some evidence exists concerning production
at the installations listed below. Most of the information concern-
ing these plants 'is unconfirmed, and for this reason, or for the
particular reasons stated, they are not Considered as producers of
nitric acid.
1. Rubezhansk Chemical Combine.
a. Location. Rubezhnoye, Voroshilovgrad Oblast -
-(URTiin III).
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b. Comment, production of
nitric acid at this plant, but this is not confirmed
2. Nitrogen Plant.
a. Location. Derbent, Dagestan ASSR (tower Don-
North Caucasus, IV).
b. Comment. A synthetic ammonia, nitric acid, and nitro-
genous fertilizer plant was planned for installation at this site
before World War II. No postwar information is available, and it
is believed that the plans were abandoned.
3. Kamensk Shakhtinskiy Chemical Combine
a. Location. Kamensk, Rostov Oblast (Lower Don-
North Caucasus, IV).
. Comment.
this plant produced synthetic
ammonia, nitric acid, and explosives before it was destroyed during
World War II. Reconstruction is probable, but postwar production of
either ammonia or nitric acid is not confirmed.
4. Rionskiy Nitrogenous Fertilizer Combine.
a. Location. Rion, Georgian SSR (Transcaucasus, V).
b. Comment. An extract from the Soviet press, dated 1948,
stated that "on the basis of electric power from the Rion hydro-
electric power plant and coal from Tkvibuli, the Rionskiy Nitro-
genous Fertilizer Combinat is being built." Rion is located near
Brotseuli, and this may be the same plant that was planned for
installation at Brotseuli before World War II. Until further informa-
tion is available, this installation will be considered as under
construction but not as a producing plant.
' 5. Nitrogen Plant. ?
a. Location. Rustavi, Georgian SSR (Transcaucasus, V).
b. Comment, confirmed the con-
struCtion of a synthetic nitrogen plant at this location.
construction has been proceeding at a slow pace,
and it is estimated that this plant will not be put into production
until after 1953.
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a 6. Chemical Plant
a. Location. Dzerzhinsk, Gor'kiy Oblast (Central
European USSR, VII).
b. Comment. During the postwar period a synthetic ammonia
plant, utilizing dismantled German equipment, was installed at this
location, probably in connection with the production of Kapron, a
poIyamide synthetic fiber of the nylon type. There are isolated
reports of nitric acid production, but this is not sufficiently
confirmed.
7. Kuybyshev Chemical Combine.
a. Location. Voskresensk, Moscow Oblast (Central
'European USSR. VII),
h. Comment. production of
nitric acid at this plant but this is not confirmed
8. Plant Name Not Available.
a. Location. Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast
--(TETIE: VIII).
b., Comment.
TEdicate the production of nitric acid at a plant
in the Chelyabinsk area. but such production is not sufficiently
confirmed.
9. Plant Name Not Available.
a. Location. Gubakhal Molotov Oblast (Urals, VIII).
b. Comment.. A 1943 Soviet publication mentioned that a
nitrate fertilizer plant was under construction at-Gubakha. Subse-
quent information is not available,- and there are no indications
that this installation has gone into production.
10. Copper Electrolysis Plant.
1940
a.
b.
Location. Kyshtym, Chelyabinsk Oblast (Urals, VIII).
Comment'. Production of nitric acid at this plant in
This has not been con-
firmed and is regarded as improbable.
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11. Plant Name Not Available.
a. Location. Magnitogorsk; Chelyabinsk Oblast (Urals
b. Comment.
a synthetic ammonia
and nitric acid plant was put into operation at Magnitogorsk in 1936.
however, revealed that such a plant did not exist and was not yet
under construction at that time. It is believed
misled by Soviet plans which had failed to materialize.
It is possible that this plant may have been constructed and put into
operation since 1937, but there is no evidence to support this hypoth-
esis.
12. Plant Name Not Available.
a. Location. Neyvo-Rudyanka, Sverdlovsk Oblast
7-17-1s1Ur
b. Comment. the production of
nitric acid at a chemical plant in Neyvo:Rudyanka but stated that
the production was not confirmed. This information is still uncon-
firmed, and the existence of a nitric acid plant at this location is
regarded as improbable.
13. 'Plant 'Name Not Available.
a. Location. Nizhniy Tagil, Sverdlovsk Oblast
?(117-1D77 VIII).
b. Comment.
synthetic ammonia at this location,
possibility that such a plant was installed at Nizhniy Tagil.
until further information
is received, Nizhniy Tagil will not be regarded as the site of a'
nitric acid plant.
the production of
14. Plant Name Not Available.
a. Location.
b. Comment.
was produced by-a chemical plant at this location.
been Confirmed.
Shaytanka,
Sverdlovsk Oblast
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(Urals, VIII).
nitric acid
This has not
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15. Krasnyy Znamenosets Explosives Plant.
a. Location. Zlatoust, Chelyabinsk Oblast (Urals, VIII).
b. Comment. Prodriction of nitric acid at this plant
Small-scale production is regarded
as possible but has not been confirmed.
lb. Plant Name Not Available.
a. Location. Shorsu, Fergana Oblast, Uzbek SSR
?(NEUTil Asia, Xb).
b. Comment. the production Of 50X1
nitric acid in a plant at this location, but this has not been con-
firmed.
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17. Plant Nam Not Available.
a. Location. Vladivostok, Primorskly Kray (Far East, XII).
b. Comment. The Manchurian Chemical Company Plant at Dairen,
which produced synthetic ammcinia, nitric acid, and nitrogenous ferti-
lizers?was dismantled by the Soviets andj trans- 50X1
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was re-erected in Vladivostok.
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