ATOMIC RESEARCH CENTER NEAR SOFIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A032000680001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 17, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 7, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/02/17: CIA-RDP80T00246AO32000680001-1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Atomic Research Center near Sofia
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Isws, 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.
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 7 January 1957
NO. OF PAGES 1
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
three short reports on the Atonic Research Center 5-6 kilomete25X1
X AIR X B AEC LX OSI E
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Bulgaria
rxperimental &ieientific Center for Atomic Studies
1. An experimental center for atomic studies is allegedly under conotruaction
in Sofia and covers an areal of two hectares. The complex which will be built
in stages, and not part of the city of Sofia, will include four Lain b.aildin?;s
in addition to various other installations/iwich will be located the institute
and the po experimental ptysics center, and is intended for use in exx,erimental
research and the peaceful use of atomic power.
2. The U 366i will supply an experimental reactor as well as fissionable (?)
material necessary for the reactor.
3. Bulgaria produces uranium ore which, however, is exporte3 to the
173 JR whereat, fissionable material is extracted for the exr.exlmentul reactor.
4. :dullaria at present Has facilities for processing uranium ore but no
equipment for transforming tae uranium ore into fissionable (?) ara+terial.
y. It appears tarot also in the fat-are Bulgaria because of the late:: of
facilities, will continue to send to the USSR its uranium produ.stion, cn;a. the
UJUA will se,-d to Bula;ariaaz the fissionable i aateriaal. This is accordance with
tue plasma of the 6entraal institute of the Nuclear rieseaarch of the eastern
block countries locz.ted in i4oscow.
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Bulgaria
btoraic iteseurch Institutes
1. In accordance with agreements concluded between the USSR and several
satellite countries wiaich provide for the creation of atomic research centers in
the various countries, work ,c=uxzta irxkZ'oax k of this type has started in
Bulgaria to which no publicity has been given.
2. Bulgarian installations are being dtrnta erected approximately 5
kilometers southeast of Sofia, and according to plans will be completed by 1 4uly 195?.
he center. will have, among other things, a reactor and a cyclotron.
3. construction work is still in its initial stages. A building a;)proxi-
m tely 40 meters long and 12 meters wide has now been completed up to its third
floor. In addition to this there are four other buildings at vL!.riouc points of
construction. Reinforced concrete columns approximately 2 i,eters high, which
will apparently serve for aol:iing up a barbed wire fence, sarround:tx gxthe entire
area, lwaich is approximately 750 x 700 x 800 meters. The entire area is loc:.ted
in a pla$a.
4. cionstraction plans were made by the Central Institute for 8onstruction
of 13laus, 4Ikaxpraxkt Glavproelct, under the direction of the architects Vasklov
and Petyo anturdzhiev. 2ne rarchitecttZhara Gozov took part as advisor. the
above plans prior to being s tL!rted were sent to the hSStt where they were checked
and approved.
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Bulgaria
The Sofia Atomic Center
the Sofia Atomic Center under construe-
tion in a series of buildings whose bordering walls are now being erected. This
installation is located approximately 6 kilometers southeast of ..iofia, exactly
2 kilometers northwest of the Sofia-Plovdiv and Sofia-3amokov crossroads.
2. The construction of this installation is proceeding at a rapid pace
even though quite a few difficulties have arisen because of the lack of "heavy"
concrete.
3. he area where these buildings are located is starting to be surrounded
by a high, reinforced concrete fence which 7shortly) will
be surrounded by a protective wall which will make it impossible to observe the
installations.
4. The installations cover a reetangelar area whose wider aide is adjacent
to the Sofia-Plovdiv highway and is 900 meters in length.
The constructions appear to be grouped in three distinct blocks which
would presumably correspond to: ('a) buildings for the atomic reactor in the eastern
section; (b) worksnop of the scientific experimental base on the west side; (c)
institute of physics in the central block.
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6. The building in which the atomic reactor will allegedly xkkk be placed
has the following dimensions: 30 meters in
length. 20 meters in width and 16 meters in height.
7. Allegedly the technical equi? ment to be installed in the center is
already arriving from the USSR accompanied by specialised personnel charged
with taking care of the assembly which should be started in the coming; yeav.
8. the center will be equipped with a nuclear reactor with a power of
2,000 kilowatts and a cyclotron whose characteristics are unknown.
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