POLISH PLANS FOR INCREASED COPPER OUTPUT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01003A001000180004-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 27, 2000
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: March 20, 1961
• Content Type: BRIEF

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Copy No.
20 March 1961
CURRENT SUPPORT BRIEF
POLISH PLANS FOR INCREASED COPPER OUTPUT
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This report represents the immediate views of the
originating intelligence components of the Office
of Research and Reports. Comments are solicited.
This document contains information affecting the national defense of
the United States, within the meaning of the espionage laws, Title 18
USC, Sections 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which
in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
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POLISH PLANS FOR INCREASED COPPER OUTPUT
Long-term plans for the copper industry in Poland represent a
major investment project and point toward the country's becoming the
leading producer of this nonferrous metal in the European Satellite
area, An output of possibly 90,000 tons* a year by 1975 is envi-
sioned as the consequence of deposits of copper ore discovered in
1957 in the so-called Western Territories. The probable level of
output would make Poland virtually self-sufficient in copper. 1/
The "new" deposits lie in the Glogow-Lubin area, some 50 to 75
miles northeast of those that have been mined for many years in the
vicinity of Zlotoryja. Reserves of 10 to 15 million tons of copper
--as well as significant amounts of other metals, including silver,
nickel, and molybdenum--are claimed. Construction of the first of
three mines planned to exploit these deposits is under way. Also
planned are an ore processing plant and, eventually, increased re-
fining capacity. As ore output from the first mine is not expected
to become significant before 1966, refining capacity in addition to
that already scheduled for completion by the end of 1963 may not be
needed before 1970 or so, when all three mines should be operating.
Available information does not specify whether an entirely new
smelting and refining installation or still further extension of the
present plant at Legnica is contemplated. 2/
Development of the "new basin" is planned to take place over a
ten-year period and will require sizable investments. So far, Poland
has allocated 15 billion zlotys--approximately equivalent to 40 per-
cent of the country's total industrial investment in 1960--for in-
dustrial installations, housing, and other facilities connected with
the project. 3/ Poland is not to rely wholly on its own resources,
however. A capital loan of US $125 million is to be received from
Czechoslovakia and is to be repaid in copper--the third conspicuous
linking of the economies of these two countries.** This credit, the
largest yet extended by Czechoslovakia to any Bloc country, is to
cover deliveries of Czechoslovak machinery and equipment for several
important investment projects in addition to copper mining. 5/ The
portion earmarked for the copper project has not been disclosed.
The Polish press notes, however, that the loan will allow Poland
to invest in the new copper basin from its own resources. 6/
Poland's present copper industry is small compared with that
planned for the future. Ore from the deposits under exploitation
near Zlotoryja has proved difficult to process and the reserves more
limited than had been anticipated. At present, about as much re-
fined copper is derived from imported blister copper, imported con-
centrates,and scrap, as from domestically produced ore. About 22,000
etr c tons are use throughout this Brief.
** Two previous credits were extended Poland by Czechoslovakia in
1957. These concerned deliveries of Czechoslovak machinery and
equipment for development of hard coal mines and for exploitation
of sulfur deposits, with repayment in the form of deliveries of
coal and sulfur, 4/
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tons of refined copper were produced in 1960--roughly one quarter of
the output of the European Satellites. Most of the copper ore pro-
duced in Poland is smelted and refined at Legnica, but additional
facilities exist at the Szopienice zinc plant near Katowice, where
both imported and domestic blister copper are refined.
The persistent Bloc-wide shortage of copper is acute in Poland
where a widening gap between domestic supplies and growing indus-
trial requirements is in prospect for some time ahead. Poland prob-
ablyplans imports on the order of 30,000 tons of refined copper in
1965, 7/ or about 10,000 tons more than were imported in 1959. 8/
import on refined
a contny to
balances of payments, quantities
a continuing strain currency areas.
Fulfillment of long-term plans for developing the copper indus-
try would be very favorable to Poland. Discounting future export
commitments to Czechoslovakia--to be based on a fixed percentage of
output for a ten-year period beginning in 1969--Poland would attain
virtual self-sufficiency in copper by 1975.
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25X1A
Analyst:
~ _I
Sources:
1. State, Warsaw, Dsp 50, 5 Aug 60, p. 2. C.
2. CIA. FDD, Summary no 2898, 11 Jan 61, Weekly Economic Report
on Eastern Europe, p. 2. OFF USE.
25X1 C
JPRS. 531-D, 13 Feb 59, Summary of the Polish Provincial Press,
p. 9. U.
Ibid., no 6643, 25 Jan 61, p. 34. U.
STATSPEC
25X1 C
5. Ibid., 10 Jan 61, p. 8.
6. Ibid., 13 Jan 61, p. 5. U.
7. CIA. FDD. U-3,056,520, 26 Feb 60.
CONT CONTROL.
8. Poland, Central Statistical Office. Stat sit ka handlu 25X1A
zagranicznego 1959 (Foreign Trade Stat~ 1959). U.
9.
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