URANIUM MINES IN RUMANIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005900150001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 12, 2008
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 31, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/02/12 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005900150001-3
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET/U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
Ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
COUNTRY Rumania
SUBJECT Uranium Mines in :Rumania
REPORT
DATE DISTR.. 31 January 1955
NO. OF PAGES ' 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
This is UNEVALUATED
Information
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE 'REVERSE) .
STATE
,Tirgu Jiu areas, but- no. positive',information filtered through the, tight
security surrounding the explorations,
ploration up to 1950 and:. very little is known '.about the results. In 19519
however,, increased--exploration was noticeable, especially in.the Banat, and
during. the summer of 1951 the presence of uranium ore..in the'Orsova area
was confirmed.. Samples of the mineral were: sent to the USSR for analysis.
20. In 1952, exploration proceeded most . intensively. in the'Turnu-Severin'and
1. When the Soviets took over Rumania, they sent:?in their 'experts to explore
all mining areas for the purpose of ascertaining. the presence of uranium,
In 1947, the prospectors reported the discovery of traces of uranium in
Transylvania, Maramures and the Banat... Strict secrecy surrounded the ex-
had-suitable establishments located in well chosen and tested areas.,, Among
these, the most''iinportantare those-:located ins
activities' assumed an:;industrial-scientific character, and within a. few months
specialists,.modern..'equipment', and.'ample financial support. . The companyis
company, Sovromura, was, createdandthe organization and direction of the
exploration activities was entrusted to this company. Generously supported
by.the Soviets, the company had .'at #i disposal expert management: and
The year 1953 can' be` considered the.beginning'of large, scale technical-
scientific search for uranium. In becember'of,l953';the joint Rumanian-Soviet
ao Baia Mare:.' the !two 'fields,.` which. have. not been exactly,pinpointed, are
25X1..
reported to. cover ar;?areaof .100 by 150 and. 1,000,by',800:hectares.,. Numerous
buildings were observed in this.'area.,some,of which served as dwellings for
Anina:' areas., not identified..
AR
x
(NOTE: Washington distribution indicated by X'," F..I'd dI MbuI on by
"#"?
X.
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Approved For Release 2008/02/12 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005900150001-3
 Approved For Release 2008/02/12 : CIA-RDP80-00810A005900150001-3
SECRET/U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
d. Liteni: area northwest of the village of Liteni; exploration ac-
tivities exclusively directed by the Soviets.
e. Topolita: area of exploitation in the upper valley of the Topolita
River. The mineral is reported to be processed on the spot and then
shipped to Galati by river. There are about 1,000 workers employed at
Topolita, among whom there appear to be many political prisoners.
f. Arcasu de Jos: areas not identified.
g. Stalin (Brasov): areas not identified*
h. Alba Iulia: in the Muntii Metalicii Mountains area, southeast slopes;
all establishments are under direct Soviet control.
i. Zarnesti: area of exploitation in the mountainous region of Ezeru
Mare.
1. In August 1954s successive experimental drillings were reported in the
areas of Fagaras and Rupea, east of the road leading from Rupea to
Homorod. The samples were shipped by rail from Sercaia to the USSR.
5. An establishment equipped to process the uranium ore is reported to be in
Turnu Severin under the name of Prodaliment. It has been ascertained
that ore processed in Turnu Severin comes from a mine recently discovered
in the upper valley of the Topolita River and that the entire output is
sent to the USSR.
6. Although the data needed to estimate the present production of uranium ore
is lacking, it is certain that numerous deposits have been located in
Rumania because of the importance attached by the Soviets to the setting
up of a mining organization and by the frequency of news of ore shipments
to the USSR.
SECRET/U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2008/02/12 : CIA-RDP80-00810A005900150001-3