MINING AND RESEARCH NEAR STURGEL, PIRDOP OKOLIYA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005100230006-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 24, 2007
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: October 13, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/07/24: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005100230006-7
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
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.
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Mining and Research Near
Sturgel, Pirdop Okoliya
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 13 October 1954
NO. OF PAGES
/ i
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THI SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ANN DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE,
(FOR KEY SIR REVERSE)
1. In 1948 and 1949 Soviet experts carried out extensive soundings and research
for uranium in the western part of Bulgaria. This work was intensified in
the following years, and at the same time searches for uranium were also made
in the coppper, zinc, and lead mines in Bulgaria. The best results were obtained
at the Stdrgel mine located approximately seven kilometers from the town of
9tlrgel (N 42-45, E 23-52), in the vicinity of the IClisura River. However, no
details are known concerning uranium production.
2. Prior to World War II the Sttlrgel mine employed a maximum of 400 workers.
Immediately after the war it was enlarged and equipped with machinery imported
from the USSR. By 1948 it employed about 1,500 workers. It produces chiefly
copper, lead, zinc, and some brass.
3. The entire work system has been modernized and excavations are now made with
electric drills. The mineral extracted is transported in small electrically
powered trans. All activity at the mine is carried out according to Soviet
methods and under the direction of Soviet technicians.
4. Under Soviet management production reached 25-30 tram-loads of ore per day as
compared to 7-8 tram-loads per day prior to World War II. Between 1950 and
1953 production was again considerably increased and now amounts to 50-60 tram-
loads daily.
5. A unit for selecting the ore is situated approximately 150 meters from the main
entrance to the mine. The ore is transported by a narrow-gauge electrically
operated line to the crushing unit and thence to the washing unit where water
pumped from the Klisura River is used. After being washed, the ore is taken to
a drier and then placed in canisters of approximately 50 kilograms capacity each.
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6. A small foundry near the mine smelts a minimum portion of the copper, lead, and
Zinc ores, while the majority of these and all the uranium ore are shipped to
the USSR.
7. With the discovery of uranium the directorate of the mine and a number of the
workers were replaced. At present approximately 50 Soviet directors and technicians
are employed here, as is a unit of Soviet Secret ]police which controls the Bul-
garian unit. This latter unit is composed of approximately 120 men. There are
at present 2,000-2,500 workers at the mine.
8. Workmen are selected with a view to their Communist political beliefs. Their
wages are higher than those generally prevalent in Bulgaria. They enjoy com-
plete personal freedom, but cannot leave the mining area without a pass from
the Secret Police.
9. A Militia unit of approximately company strength, commanded by an unidentified
captain, controls the mining area and is located in St'(irgel. This unit is sub-
ordinate to the Soviet and the Bulgarian Secret Police.
10. Work is carried out in the mine in three shifts of eight hours each. All workers
are members of the Communist Party as well as members of the Miners' Union, which,
in fact, under the control of the Police, carries out hiring of workers. The
CFPS (Obsht Rabotnicheski Profesionalen Styusf General Workers' Professional
Union) is located in Sturgel.
11. The mine is connected to the new Sofia-Varna (now Stalin) railway line, completed
in 1952. It is also connected, as is Sturgel, to the railway station of Pirdop
by means of a new railway branohiine, as well as by a new highway. Prior to the
construction of the new railway line the ore was transported by trucks which went
from the mine to the railroad station of Sarantsi (N 42-43, E 23-46).
12. Soviet and Bulgarian geologists are conducting research and soundings also in the
areas toward the Yugoslav border, or more precisely north of the Belgrade-Sofia
railroad line, vi well as in areas in the Balkan Mountains and in various sections
of Bulgaria bordering on Greece, which are well-known for their mineral wealth.
Research in the direction of Yugoslavia has produced satisfactory results, but the
exact location and production figures are not known to informant. On several
occasions railroad convoys were observed carrying ores to the port of Varna, where
they were loaded for shipment to the USSR.
13. Very recent information confirms the discovery of uranium ore deposits also near
the Greek border, but no details are known concerning this. The Greeks also have
undertaken research in Greece near the Bulgarian border and it appears that deposits
rich in uranium have been discovered.
14. 1 sketch showing the approximate location of the Sturgel Mine is included as an
Appendix on page 3.
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Approved For Release 2007/07/24: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005100230006-7
 Approved For Release 2007/07/24: CIA-RDP80-00810A005100230006-7
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-3-
Mekotsevo
Dolno Kamartai
Mirkovo
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Approved For Release 2007/07/24: CIA-RDP80-00810A005100230006-7
 Approved For Release 2007/07/24: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005100230006-7
Approved For Release 2007/07/24: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005100230006-7