PYRITES SUPPLY SITUATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A000400630003-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 3, 2009
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 27, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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ANTRAL INTELLIGENCE 'AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the NIL.
tional Defense of the United States, Within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET/CO.NTRGL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY Czechoslovakia
SUBJECT Pyrites Supply Situation
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO.. 'OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
P rites Requirements
1.. Czechoslovakia's yearly requirements of pyrites. at the beginning of 1952 were
estimated at 3600000 tons, based on a sulphur ontent of 40% a Of this tonnage,
approximately 280,000 tons were to cover the requirements of the chemical industry
and 80,060 toneM'Ithe requirements of the paper and cellulose industry,, The
following is a l st of individual plants of both industries, together with their
capacity.
a. The chemical industry.
(1) The Association for Chemioal and Metallurgical Production, Usti
nad Labem. An old acid plant equipped with Lurgi mechanical furnaces
plus:a now flash roasting plant. 'Total requirements 4,500 tons of
pyrites per month,,
(2) The Lsaeebni Works? $o1in0, An old acid plant equipped with mechanical
furnaces plus a new flash roasting plant, Total requirements, 2,000
tons of pyrites Der month..
(3) The Iirv.sov Chemical Works at CXira ,.The old mechanical furnaces are'
being dismantled and only the new flash roasting plant is now operating.
Total requirements, 4,500 tons of pyrites per month.
W?-The Johan David Starok enterprise3.p Has Lurgi type mechanical
furnaces. Requirements of pyrites, 600 tons per month, mostly for
superphosphate.
(5) The Association for Chemical. and Metallurgical Production, Petrovioe.
Has Lurgi type mechanical furnaces. Requirements of pyrites, 600 tons
per month,
;(6) A chemical plant in. Postorna, near Breclav. Has Lurgi type mechanical
' furnaces. Requirements of pyrites,.. 1,000 tons per month.
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(7) The Ooebni Works, Prerov. The existing plant is equipped with Lurgi type
mechanical furnaces and requires l,5OO tons of pyrites per month. The new
acid plant which has now been completed has Lurgi type mechanical furnaces
and is eapable of handling",.,0OQ tons of pyrites per month. Total works
pyrites requirements, .4...500 tons per month.
(8) Synthesiap Semtinn Has I,urgi type mechanical furnaceL. Pyrites
requirements,, 750 tong per month.
(9) A chemical plant in Chrudim. Has Lurgi type mechanical furnaces.
Pyrites requirements,, 350 tons per month.
(10) The D,y.aaaml'ah Corporation., Bratislava... , Has Lurgi type mechanical.
fu.rnaoes. Pyrites requirements, 4,50c_~ .;ons per month..
(11) The Vah Chemical Works, Zilina, Has Lurgi type mechanical furnaces.
Pyrites requirements, 1,000 tons per month,
(12) A chemical plant at Kostolarr nad Hornadcm.2 Has Lurgi type mechanical
furnaces. Pyrites requirements, 500 tons per month.
The paper and cellulose industry.
(1) The South Bohemian Paper Mills:, C. Kruralova. Pyrites
requirements, 450 tons per month.'
(2) The Yl';svis1 , Mlyn Paper Mills, Loucovice, o Kaplice. Pyrites
requirements, 250 tons per month.
(3) The 'West Bohemian Paper Mills, Pilsen. Pyrites requirements9250
tons per month.
(4) The Krkonose Paper Mills, fostinne. Pyrites requirements, 270
tons per month.
(5) A paper factory at Pisek. Pyrites requirements, 250 tons per month.
(6) The J:Lndricho-T Paper Mills, nn~ Mcor. Pyrites requirements,
220 tons per month.
(7) The Lukavice Paper' Mills, Lu. a,vj e,. Pyrites requirements, ?.. ;U tons
per month.
(8) The Vratimov Paper mills, Vratimov u Ostravy, a cellulose factory.
Pyrites requirements,, 750 tons per month.
(9) The Cel-al.o :a, factory at Zilina, a cellulose factory.. Pyrites
requirements 1,000 tone per month.
(10) A cellulose factory 'at Poprad, Pyrites requirements, 800 tons per month.
(il) The Celulo,zova factory at Turciansky Svaty Martin, a cellulose factory.
Pyrites requirements, 800 tons per month,
(12) The Supra paper and:el1ul,ose factory at Ruzomberok. Pyrites require-
ments, 800 tons per month.
(13) A paper and cellulose factory at HarrAnec.3 Pyrites requirements,
300 tons per month.
(14) A paper and cellulose factory at Gemerska Horka,3 near Ru.zomber'ok.
Pyrites requirements,. 450 tons per month.
(15) The. 7r x. r; iarer and 60ALlulose factory at Ruzomborok. Pyrites requirements,
1t,+ O H, toaa. , per A x ?
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Pyrites Imports in 1951
2. The following amounts of pyrites were imported during 1951 from the countries
listeds
a. Yugoslavia, 25,000 tons, representing the balance remaining on the 1950
contract; and 12,000 tons, aeaed to Czechoslovakia by Poland and East
Germany.
e. Bulgaria, 10,000 tons. Czechoslovakia had hoped to receive 20,000 to 304,000
tons, but the Bulgarians were unable to supply them beoausu 15,000 to 20,0000
tons are now required annually for the new aoid plant built for them by
the USSR.
f. Rumania, 25,000 tons. This is a flotation ore with 42 to 44% sulphur
and a high arsenic content. It is used in ';he flash roasting plants.
This ore comes from the mines at Baja Mara and Baja Sprie in Transylvania,
near Valea Lui Mihai.
3. Production by the Chvaletice pyrites plant in 1951 was 50,000 tons, so Czechoslovakia
a;ltained;a total of 233,000 tons from 411 sources during that. year. The original ir-
port.plan for 1951 had provided for a total of 1200000 tons and the balance of approx-
imately 240,000 tons was to be covered by the supply of about 210,000 toms ftom
C;hvaletioe.end by eating, to some extent, into stocks. In 1950-, , S. Rad.Fk, the Vice-
Minister' in charge of the mining industry (an old Party member who has s sequently
had been, shot by the Soviets for incompetence and sabotage: at Chvaletioehad given -a
definite undertaking to supply a total of 300,000 -trolis uz' pyrites from
Chvaletice during 1951. Rsda's figures on future production at Chvaletice
were accepted by the Ministry of Industry and by Chemapol, but, owing to
the inherent incompetence of the planners and the delayed delivery of
plant and equipment, the total quantity delivered amounted to only 50,000 tons.
The resulting gap in the supply of pyrites was partly bridged by drawing, on
accumulated stocks and by reducing production at certain chemical plants--
probably those producing superphosphate.
4. As it became increasingly clear that Chvaletice, in spite of having been given
priority over all other projects, would not produce even half the tonnage
promised by Rada, every effort eras made to obtain supplies from outside souroes.
The National Bank, which a few months previously had refused to provide
dollars for the purchase of pyrites, was prepared by April to provide any
currency necessary to obtain supplies. Intermediaries were encouraged to make
offers, and if they were able to deliver.they could more or less dictate their
own prices and conditions. Stocks at the various chemical factories were
reduced to a hand to mouth basis. The Association for Chemical and Metallurgical
firr,di.zction at Usti nad Labem, one of the most important, sent its own men to
Chvaletice to await the loading of the trains in order to ride with them to
Usti nad Labem and thus prevent any delay or damage during the journey.
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5. The fact that the various intermediaries involved were :ableto brine in
pyrites in considerable amounts from abroad
when it became clear that normal sources
and trade channels were not going to suffice, indioai-es that Czechoslovakia
Current and Future Pyrites Supply Prospects.,
6. The following are the prospects for current and future supply of pyrites from
various sources:
be Yugoslavia; In April 1952 Chemapol was negotiating with the Yugoslavs
bit since the latter demanded coke, which the Czechs were unable to supply,
the negotiations were broken off.
d. Bulgarian In view of Bulgaria's needs for her own newly built acid plant,
it is unlikely that more than 10 to 15,000 tons will be available for
delivery to Czechoslovakia.
e.:-lumania% It is believed that not more than 34,000 tons will be available.
f. Albanian In December 1951, Chemapol received two carloads (40 tons) of
pyrites from Albania as a sample. The ore was roasted at the Hrusov works,
was e?A1 i.vered run of mine and was said to be of excellent quality with
about 46% sulphur. The deposits are high up in the mountains and the
ore is brought to Durres by truck. Therm is no hope of exploiting the
deposits on any but he smallest scale unless very considerable invest-
ments are made in mining equipment and transportation.
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Brasy, near Pilsen. This area had deposits of low grade manterial
believed to be similar tc but somewhat better than at Ohvaletioe, and
they are now being opened up. They are said to be easier to exploit
than at Chvaletice, but it is doubted whether any pyrites will become
available from them for at least another year, if then.
h. It is estimated that Chvaletice will produce some 150,000 tons of pyrites
during 1952, containing 8 to 12% moisture and 42% sulphur, rising to a
maximum of 200,000 tons in 1953. Since the washing plant there is not
yet completed, the present capacity is not known. When completed, it will
be capable of treating sufficient mineral to yield 300,000 tons of pyrites
per year. The crushing and screening plant has a similar capacity. Raw
sohist as mined at Chvaletice contains an average of about 15% pyrites or
approximately 8% sulphur. It has bon found necessary to put the mineral
through the washing plant three times in order to concentrate it to 42%
sulphur.
7. The extent to which the shortage of pyrites had interfered with production is
not definitely known. It is known, however, that the plants at Zilina,
Ruzomberok (Solo) and Poprad were completely closed down in April, 1952.
Whether these plants have now resumed production or whether additional plants
have been closed down is not knowno
8. It is fairly certain that the new plant at Prerov is now completed. The acid
plant at Neratovice is also thought to be nearing completion. The comparatively
new plant at Kostolany, near Kosice, will probably be extended in order to
provide acid for the newly-built heavy industrial plants in Slovakia,
9. Czechoslovakia imports from Eastern Germany about 5,000 tons of 25X1
iron oxide each year for the synthetic oil plants at Most. When spent, the
material is deliverdd to Usti nad Labem and mixed with pyrites before roasting..
10. For the artificial fibre industry, Czech requirements are approximately
15,000 tons of elemental sulphur per year, while the rubber industry needs an
nal 7,000 tons, thus giving a total earl requirement of 22,000 tone.
Supplies have been reviously received .from Eastern Germany, Poland and
the'USSR. The three are said to have been extracted from spent oxide.
Sulphur from Eastern GermarW came from the synthetic oil plants at Bitterfeld,
Sohwartzheide and :Ruhland. In 195:1 some 5,000 tons were supplied by the USSR
The Stalin Works at Most
are now extracting sulphur from the gasses at
per year.
,e rate of about 7,000 tons
11.
The Central Planning Office uses the following figures for its calculations:
For 100 kg.
For 100 kg.
For 100 kg.
of monohydrate _ 37 kg. of sulphur.
of sulphite cellulose - 14 kg. of sulphur.
of 16% superphosphate - 35 kgo of monohydrate.
12.
As a result of Chemapol s policy to cover adequately the pyrites requirements,
some 38 officials o4. the organization were dismissed in April, 1952. The
general manager,, (fnu) Sada, was sent on forced labor ',,? was subsequently
or of economics
us job as l~r ;
u
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at Prague University. His succ?nn nr am general manager of Chemapol is a
certain Krejca, who until 1951was a wtrkm.an in ;rie chemical works at Usti.. nad Labem..
He then attended a course in Prague for reliable Party members chosen for
subsequent promotion to responsible positions, and was posted to Chemapol to
gain experience. In July 1951 he was appointed Gene=ral Manager. His assist-
ant is a certain En_ .Hl.och 25X1
The present cCommercial Manager
of Chemapol in place of Klir is Lubomir Pesl, who has been with Chemapol since
its formation andvas previously with the plant at Usti and with Chemieky
Zavody.
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139 Rokyrcansky, the previous head of the Security Department, was sentenced to
forced labor in 1951. His successor is one Ulo, an old Party member and
previously a workman in the V.I. Lenin works at Pilsen. Most of Rokyoansly's
staff were dismissed with him but the names of their successors are not
.-known. Each head of a department at Chetapol (this is true of the other
oonoerns too) has with him an ex-workman who is being trained to take over
the job.
14. Chemical industry information.
a. The shortage of rasorit (raw borax) required by the factory at Sokolov
which produces Ferro-alloys, calcium, carbide, nitroohalk, 'eto. is
causing difficulties.' The Czechs are members of the borax pooh in
London, and are said to benefit thereby.
b. It is said that most of the ore from the USSR for Czechoslovakia is now
being transported via the Black Sea and the Danube to Komarno, thus
reducing the pressure at Cerna pri Cope (R49/E90).
o. Adequate supplies of chrome ore are being received from the USSR and
Albania.
d. Adequate supplies of ca?irhon and graphite electrodes are now received
from the USSR, Poland and East Germany.
1.1 LComment: Johan David Stark pir'ts have previously been
21I Comment: Possibly the Dynamit-Nobel Chemical Works.
3. ..
4.
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reported as being located at Brasy, Dolni, Ryohnov and Kaznejov.
Comment: Presumably calcium nitrate.
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Comment: Possibly Boramp Consolidated.
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