DEFICIENCIES IN ARGENTINE COAL MINING PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A002700020004-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 11, 2003
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: October 27, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2004/02/19 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002700020004-6
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
CONFIDENTIAL
25X1
25X1
Argentina
SUBJECT Deficiencies in Argentine Coal Mining
Program
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRE
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of. Title 18, Sections 193 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. It,. transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person Is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
25X1A
25X1A
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
27 October 1953
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
(VALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
IRE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
25X1X
1. The present organization and management of the government-owned coal mines
at Rio Turbid, in the National Territory of Santa Cruz in southern Argentina,
is disastrous. The majority of the higher-ranking employees have little
sense of responsibility and are often deficient in the technical knowledge
needed to handle their jobs properly. The actual production of these mines is,
at best, about 600 metric tons of coal a day, which the Argentine Government
wants to increase to 7,000 metric tons a day. However, this figure is merely
a hope which will never be reached. At present it costs more to transport
the coal from the mines in Rio Turbid to the coast than it does to extract
it.l Moreover, the narrow-gauge single-track railway line used to transport
the coal to the coast is not sufficient to handle 7,000 metric tons of coal a
day, even if such a production figure could be reached.
2. At present about 2,,500 persons are employed in the mines at Rio Turbid, and
their combined payroll is more than 14,000,000 Argentine pesos a month. The
majority of the technicians and white-collar workers are Argentine citizens,
but most of the miners and manual laborers are Chileans. The Argentine person-
nel are all well paid. Argentine citizens employed in an executive capacity
receive a living allowance equal to their salary. Argentine personnel employed
in non-executive capacities receive a living allowance equal to 50% of their
salaries. However, the 'Chileans receive only their salaries. No labor unions
exist at Rio Turbid to defend the rights of the. miners. Recently, ten organizers
who had been sent to Rio Turbid to try to set up a labor union were expelled
from the area. Thus the miners at Rio Turbid are under the complete control of
the management and. have no way to seek redress from the arbitrary decisions of
their employers.
3. The mining machinery and the mined themselves are in such a bad state of con-
servation that it is believed if improvements are not made soon the government
will be forced eventually to abandon them. 25X1A
1. Comment. Because of the limited production and the high cost of ex-
r.?ac on Eansport,,the mines at Rio Turbio_serve more as a propaganda
weapon for, '-thje tO i, gcir9r lment. than : s a source of opal.
.. ' NZIDENTIAL
(Nob: Washington Distribution Indicated by "X"; Field Distribution By "#".)
Approved For Release 2004/02/19 : CIA-RDP80-00810A002700020004-6