PEN-CHI NITROGEN FERTILIZER PLANT PEN-CHI, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000400010047-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2008
• Sequence Number: 47
• Publication Date: March 1, 1972
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/12 : CIA-RDP79T00909A000400010047-1
Top Secret
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
Basic Imagery Interpretation Report
Pen-chi Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant
Pen-chi, China
DATE
COPY
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Pen-chi Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant
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548th RTG. USATC, Series 200, Sheet -
(SECRET 25X1
The primary function of Pen-chi Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant is the production
of urea fertilizer, utilizing coke oven gas from a nearby iron and steel plant
as the feed material. Liquid ammonia and possibly aqueous ammonia are
secondary products.
Initial construction activity for the plant was observed in September
1967. Construction proceeded slowly during 1968 and early 1969. After
March 1969 the construction rate increased, and by January 1970 the plant
was complete and operating.
The plant was in operation in January and December 1970 and November
1971, as indicated by vapors coming from the gas purification and urea
synthesis equipment. It was not operating in July 1971.
This report includes a photograph, a process flow chart, a line drawing
of the plant, and a chronological summary of construction and operational
status.
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Pen-chi Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant is located 3 nautical miles southwest
of the center of Pen-chi, Liaoning Province (see Figure 1). Steam is available
to the plant from the collocated steam plant and from the nearby Pen-chi Heat
and Thermal Power Plant Number 3 Steel Plant Electric power 25X1
is received from the regional grid through a collocated transformer substation.
The nearby Pen-chi Iron and Steel Plant Kungyuan is the source 25X1
of hydrogen and carbon dioxide for the plant.
The fertilizer plant occupies 30 acres in an irregular shaped area measuring
approximately 1,470 by 840 feet overall (see Figures 2 and 3). It is served by
road and by a spur from the Pen-chi to Liao-yang rail line.
Operational Functions
The primary function of the plant is the production of prilled urea
fertilizer. Liquid ammonia and possibly aqueous ammonia are secondary products.
This plant uses coke oven gas obtained from the coking facilities at the nearby
iron and steel plant. This is a new source of feed gas for Chinese nitrogen
fertilizer plants and probably represents an effort to conserve coal, which is
normally the primary feed material at this type of plant.
The plant is designed to use coke oven gas as the source of hydrogen for
the synthesis of ammonia and as a source of carbon dioxide for the production
of urea. The coke oven gas may also contain methane, carbon monoxide, oxygen,
and various illuminants. These other gases could be used to produce additional
hydrogen or carbon dioxide by either reforming or oxidation. It cannot be
determined whether any additional processing of the coke oven gas occurs at
this plant. Those gases that are not converted would be removed from the gas
stream in a purification unit. A possible air separation plant may be the
source of nitrogen for the ammonia production. The process flow for the
products is shown in Figure 4.
A spherical storage tank present in the liquid ammonia loading facility is
a unique feature at this plant. A line of trucks was seen at the loading
facility in July 1971. The trucks were probably from local farming communes
since railcars have also been observed at the plant, alongside the urea
warehouse.
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Construction and Operational Status
Initial construction activity for the plant was observed in September 1967,
and by February 1968 several support buildings had been constructed. In March.
1969 three additional support buildings were complete, and three support
buildings, the ammonia synthesis building, and the urea production facility
were in. an early stage of construction. Between March 1969 and January 1970
the rate of construction increased. By January 1970, a steam plant, the
gas purification equipment, liquid ammonia facilities, and the possible air
separation plant had been added and the ammonia synthesis building and-urea
production facility had been completed. Only minor support buildings have
been added.since January 1970..
The plant was in operation in January and December 1970 and November
1971. This was indicated by vapors coming from the gas purification and urea
synthesis equipment. It was not operating in July 1971.
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Map
548th RTG. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, - n,
May 1970, Scale 1:200,000 (SECRET
,Requirement
COMIREX N07
Support Number
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