1. THE COPPER PLANT IN NORILSK 2. THE LARGE SMELTING SHOP IN NORILSK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A041500490001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 17, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 24, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

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`EgS1N~-p~aC
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
O c2
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.B.C. Secs. 793 and 794. the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY USSR (Krasnoyarsk Kray)
SUBJECT 1. The Copper Plant in Norilsk DATE DISTR. 24+ April 1958
2. The Large Smelting Shop in Norilsk
C- ,off ;,, NO. PAGES 1
REFERENCES
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
Reports on the copper plant (mednyy zavod) (attachment 1) and the
smelting ulant (bolshov nlavilnvy taekh) in Norilsk (attachnei~t ~l 25X1
W
labor force, and ertain personalities in Norilsk.
The six-page report on the copper plant. gives the location and description
of the plant, its plant production copper processing and equipment
6f the shop area and the shop itself, with a detailed index, plus
The six-page report on t e large smelting shop includes, a-numbered pl
is a numbered plan and brief index of the copper plant.
personalities in the shop. The index states that
nickel, copper, and cobalt ores are processed in this shop. Included
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(Not,: Washington distribution indkated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
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Country: USSR
"Medniy Zavod" in Noril'sk
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iL
Location and Description of the "Merin y Zavod" in Noriltsk
1. The ' ednty Zavod" (Copper Plant) is located on the southeastern
side of Noril'sk about three or four kilometers frog the center of
the city and appraaciaately two kilometers from the ftmrth Oorniy
Lager.l The plant was subordinate to the Administration of Metallur-
gical Plants (Upravlenie* .'YitllMiabnikh. Zavodakh) until 1953
when it began operation an an independent }plant.
2. A river flows at a distance of two and one half to three kilometers
south of the eledniy Zavad' into the Lama Lake. The lake district,
which is located along the railroad leading to DudirJa, is situated
at approximately one to one and one half kilometers east of the
plant. Although Noril'sk is an industrial center, its only rail
connection with Dudinka is by seams of this one wide-gauge railroad
line. The Nadeshdi Airfield is apprcadaately eight kilometers from
Noril'sk, and flights are available from this field to Dadinka.
3. A plant called the "26.Zavods was built in 1953 at a distance of
150-240 meters east or southeast of the "Medniy Zavod". It is be-
lieved that in this plant gold and precious metals can be extracted
from the dross of the copper ore. However, in 195h 2 dross was
still being sent by aircraft to Moscow for processing.
1.
The electrolytic section of the "redniy Zavod" is situated in a
square-shaped building with a pitch-coated roof made of wood.
There are windows on the sides of the building. One part of the
building is three storied, the other is two storied. The building
housing the copper concentrate ressseibles the electrolytic section
r
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but has a concrete roof. The building
the smelting; furnace, the mills and otheo?hi~AtlaatA'~atere
roof and side windows. The part of this building which houses the
management offs^ee is three-storied, while the remainder of the
Wilding is one story high. The warehouse and the gara7ps are long
round-roofed buildings.
5. Between the warehouse and the electrolytic section is an underground
tunnel, approximately 100-150 meters long and four to five meters
in width and hei ht, containing two narrow *auge railroad tracks.
i1ectric machines transport the copper products to this warehouse.
The tunnel runs as far as the anode section, and the anodes which
are to be used in the electrolytic process are transported throw h this
tunnel to the electrolytic section.
6. The thickness of the walls of the various plant buildings is approxi-
mately that of one length of a brick, but the walls are constructed
according to the double-brick building reFulations, i.e* one brick
is placed length-wise and two are placed on it widthwise. The
thickness of the concrete roofs is about 10 centimeters.
Plant Production and Safety Precautions
7. The pure copper produced in the plant is in the form of plates approxi-
mately 70 x 80 centimeters in area and one and one half to IMror centi-
meters in thickness. These plates are bout 70-80 kilograms (sic)
in weir.. ht. A minimum of 17 and a maximum of 27 tons of pure copper
are obtained from each electrolysis block per week, which amounts
to a total of 700 to 1000 tons of copper per week for the entire
factory.3 The rate of production is uniform throurhout the year.
8. The copper plates obtained in the plant are che61ed and tested, and
the defective ones are separated. The others, after being stamped
with the marks showing the shift that produced then, are sent to the
copper plates warehouse. The defective ones are sent to the anode
producing section where they are melted and converted into anodes.
9. Of the i8 electrolysis blocks in the plant, three of them are used
in the preparat=on of the necessary pure copper cathodes. Three
others are not usually working.
10. The marked plates are taken from the warehouse and sent to Dudinka
by train. For three or four months in the simmer, they are transported
from Dudinka by boat to Krasnoyarsk, where there is a factory pro-
ducing wires and cables.
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11. Neither civil-defense nor fire or air-raid drills are praotdoed
in the plant. porkers are given instructions only on hew to guard
against accidents in their daily wont.
Copper Processing and Bquipmsnt
12. It is believed that the copper ore is obtained tram mines at Nor
mountain which contains a considerable amount of metallio ore deposits.
13. The copper ore is transformed into concentrate at the "Doe Factory
in Norilsk. This greenish mud-like substance resembles cement in
color and forms the raw material of the ' }tedniy Zavod." The con.-
centrate is brought to the "Iledtuiy Zarod" in trucks and is unloaded
close to the left of the entranse. From here it is sent to the
smelting furnace (piavnca, pooh) on a conveyor belt. the furnace
is of the converter type. The concentrate is poured into the converter
along with oaks,, wood, and a *taieAe-files substance called "pishaynik"
and is then inflamed. Th. copper, still in an Impure state, is than
taken from a channel under the converter and sent to the Converter
section (konvertirnoje otdelenic) which contains two con, re 0
The impure copper is remelted in the converters and compressed air
is forced through it to produce black copper. This copper is then
subjected to a purification process in the anode shop (anodniy te.kh)
in order to prepare the necessary copper anodes for the electrolytic
processing. Pure copper rods are used as cathodes and acidified
copper sulphate (Cu$011) solution is used as the electrolyte.
11. The electrolytic process is carried out in the electrolysis shop
(elektrolisniy tsekh). The shop contains 148 blocks including 10
tubs each. Each tub contains 2 electrolysis cells making a total
of 24,960 electrolysis sells in the 148.blhcks. Bach tub is appro i-
mately one meter wide and five meters U;ng a is ,o; gomemty
Approximately 9000 volts of eleotrieal cur'rpnt is transmitted to
this system, each cell receiving 0.3 volts. The electrolytic agent
is circulated continuously by paps. The circulation is limited to
18 litres a minute. the temperature of the electrolytic agent is
kept normally at ,..sentigrads and at least to 1o centigrade.
The temperature of the agent is nsasued by vapor. In addition to
this, 100 grams of glue and a small amount of the pout of a root
called "soapwort" are pat in each tub. The anodes are renovated
once a month, and the cathodes are replaced by new or full cathodes
each week. The electrolytic process is stopped completely when the
anodes are changed, and the tubs are cleaned thoroughly. During the
electrolgsis, the foreign metals (such as nickel, silver, gold, eta.)
contained in raw copper fora mud-like deposits at the bottom of the
tubs. From these deposits, called "shias", gold, silver and some
other precious metals can be obtained.
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Page k
Oibalin (fnn) is the Director of the "$edniy Zawd"
15. Coal, coke, and wood are used as fuel in the plant. These are obtained
from a rich coal sins and a ool?e-produaing factory in Eorilcsk.
The electricity for the plant is supplied by the Norilesk We
(Steam-heat and Electric Pussr ration) and cons to the plant through
a transformer at the plant. The transportation of raw material and
tr- o duo is vd thin the plant area is done by winches and conveyer
belts.
Labor at "Medaiy Zavrd? add Personalities
~~I~~rilrlrl~/r~lrll Irrli\~I*~IIrr1~
16. There are approximately 3,500 workers working in three shifts at
the "Medniy Zavod". Was hundred to 1C?? of these are free workers t
the remairffier are prisoners from the 17th (Concentration?) Camp
new the plant. The labor supply is plentiful since prisoners are
usually available. Approximtely of the free workers are former
prisoners from foreign countries. The other 5 are exiles or people
who had recently cone to $oril+sk.
17. I personalities in Moril rsk i
be Aristov (fnu) was designated to replace Gibalin as the Director
of the AA' nistration of Metallurgical Plants .
c. Chief engineer Eiss]y+ow (fan) is the technical director and the
assistant manager of the ftedgly Zavod".
d. 4era Dogushs is the cadre inspector (inspektor otdel kadri) of
the NVedaty Zavods e
e. Abdurakhsacr (fan), a Tatar, is chief of the
dross section (dhlsk Atrra3 ).
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Danskoy (fuu) l (pis the chief of the electrolysis shoe.
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g. Dinitri Qerastaovi of the
alsetr?lraia shoo.
he Mishgarodu (fnu) is the usistantu-chicf of the slsetrolysis shop
and is of Russian origin.
i. Mikhail Vasileviah Ysratnikov is the first shift leader (foreman
of the electrolysis shop.
j. Mikhail Petrovich Soldatov is the second shift leader of the
k. Skrar leader of the eieotro is
1. Vitya, Sukhanovski is a brigade leader of the electrolysis shop.
Yedra Lisov is a forests in the converter section of the plant.
mwohinko fnu is also a tore pan of the converter section.
lnu is the oashiar of the plant and is of Russian
Kat
origi
Goeha Artushin is a foresa- in the anode section of the plants
n.
1. This east be either a labor or a concentration oasp.
2. Apparently the plant does not presses dross into precious metals, and
until it can do so, the dross is being sent to Moscow for processing.
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I I'
t---60muts The production was calculated weekly beeanpe the 25X1
u. or esp cathodes wore replaeed eaah weak.
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Oo sn tit Tleeeretjoaj]7 It is 0.1 i 0.2 volts.
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ILLEGIB
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LEGEND of the SKETCH of the (MEDNtY ZAVOD)
COPPER FACTORY 1
1. Electrolysis department
2. A three- storied section - houses some bureaus.
3?
4.
5.
A two-storied section - No information.
A two-storied section - laboratory
6. Site of the "Pi.shaynik'' stone which is added to coke, coal
and "Konsentrat" during the process of smelting.
7. A two-storied section - No information.
8. Transformer centre.
9. Management department of the factory - three storied.
10. Converter department.
II. Blast furnace
12. Dross from the furnace is thrown here.
13. Place where coal mills are situated.
14. Anodes are prepared here.
15. Manufactured product warehouse i.e. Depot for the copper
sheets obtained as a result of electrolysis.
16. Food articles depot
17. Mess hall
18. Garage
19. Water tanks
20. Observation tower for guards.
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 ifw- ~t.t.L t $) 14 S.
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 _ LLB I 1'III !I II
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I I I iI lll', I III I
'Industrial Complex-NOR' IISK USSR
A. Rough sketch of the general area around BOLSHOY PLAV
1. BOLSHOY PLAV TSEKH.
la. Sheet metal tube lead the chimney
lb.. Tube used to transmit industrial gases from the B.P. TS.
lb. Industrial Chimney ofthe BP.TS.
2. Kontora Stroystava. Presimably an industrial coordinating office.
3. Rudniy Dvor.
3a. Conveyor housing,leading from RUDNIY DVOR to the B.P.TS.
4. BAV or BAF.
5. Offices and storage area of BAV or BAF.
6. Railroad leading to the GIPSOVIY ZAVOD and KOKS KHIM STROY.
7. BUO$ top road leading to the 25 Z*VCD.
8. Railroad leading to the 25 ZAVOD
9. MFKH PUNKT STANTSIYA ZHELEZNIKH DOROG.
B. Upper level of the BOLSHOY PLAV TSEKH.
1. Tracks for the VAGONYETKI which transport ore and coal to the
YATRZHEKITS.
2. Bunkera. Used fcr the storage of ore.
3. Bunkera. Used for the storage of ore.
4. Bunkera. Used for the storage of coal.
5, Transportiyon. Conveyor belt system (3 conveyor belts) leading from
the RUDNIY DVCR to the B.P.TS.
6. Kran. Crane which serves the KONVERTERA.
7. Crane which serves the VATRZHEKITS.
8. Crane which serves the OBZHEGOY TSEKH.
C. Ground level of the BOLSHOY PLAY TSEKH.
1.. VATRZHEKITQ. Numbered one and two. Ore supplied by Rudniy Dvor and
BAV`JNikeltliy Zavod are processed in the VATRZHEKITA. There are various
ores processed in these VATRZHEKITA, i.e., nickel, med', kobalt. Pro-
cessed metals are t:.en passed to the KONVERTERNIYE OT'DELENIYE.
2. KONVERTRA. The products of the VATRZHEKITA are processed in the
tfONVERTERA and divided into four categories; fashtin, nikel,kobalt
and mod'.
a. Fashtin is sent to the ELEKTROPESHNOYE OT'DEIENIYE of the OBZHE-
GOY TSEKH.
b. NIKEL is sent to the ELEKTROPESHNOYE OT'DEIENIYE of the OBZHE-
GOY TSEKH.
c. KOBALT was sent to a SHLAG OTVAL for processing and sent to
the 25 ZAVOD,
d. M?' was sent to MEDNIY ZAVOD and it was said that this product
would be sent to BEE or BES for Electrolytic processing.
3. SULFATNIY PECH. A device for processing suphate after which it is
sent to the VATRZHEKITI.
4. Wide Gauge Railroad leading to the SHLAG OTVAL, continuing to the
25 ZAVOD.
5. A place called PODSTANTSIYA. An electric control station for lights
and blowers of the KONVERTERA and possibly VATRZHEKITA.
6. POSHTIYUSHNIYE OT'DELENIYE ?. Products from the KONVERTERNIYE OT'
DELENIYE and sulphate were poured into containers (names unknown),
where the material cohled, wasdumped, ~,..,lron ,,,, mr,d mI t.n ether
locations in the plant.
7. A three-rail (wide and standard gauge
combination railroad used to
A.. 0
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haul in coal, fire clay and brick. Hauls products from OB'ZHEGOY
SEKH for delivery to BEZ or BES.
8. KONTORA. Office of the Nachalanik of the factory.
9. KONTORA. Office of the Chief Mechanic of the Factory and the Asiis-
tant to the Nachal'nik.
10. INSTRUMENTALKA. Tool room.
lOa.KUZNETS.
U. Electric shop where electric motors are overhauled.
12. MEKMASTERSKOY. Machine shop where tools for the factory are made.
13. Scales which weigh materials transferred from the B.P.TS. tb the
OB ' ZHEGOY TSEKH.
14. This section of the complex is called OB'ZHEGOY TSEKH.
15. A furnace about 2 m high, 4 m square, w/ multiple openings (no. unknown)
with fuel fed into an opening on one side. Metals processed here were
sent to BEZ or BES and the ELEKTROPESHNOYE OT'DELENIYE. Processing
at this furnace turned metals into powder form.
16. EIEKTRO STANTSIYA and LABORATORIYA. There contents of 17 and 18
are weighed, temperature checked and electrical devices controlled.
17. A small furnace. Details unknown.
18. A furnace equal in size to the VATRZHEKITA. Details inknown.
19. ELEKTROPESHNOYE OTTDELENIYE. Contains two electric furnaces which
made Nikel'niy Anod for BEZ or BES and one other product unknown to
subject. Also Office and small maintenence section on second level
above shop.
20. VOZDUKH KHODOVKA. Furnished air to VATRZHEKITA and KONVERTERA.
21 and 21a. Called PODGRIVATEL'. Contains two large round tanks of
water.
22. Electric Repair Shop. For minor repairs.
23. Kontora (office) for OB'ZHEGOY TSEKH.
D. RUDNIY DVOR serves the needs of the BOISHOY PLAV TSEKH AND BAV or BAF.
BAV or BAF is allegedly a nickel factory. Materials recieved and distri-
buted by the RUDNIY DVOR are; Nikeltniye ruda, medniye ruda, kobaltniye
ruda, fashtin, koks, peshaynik, pesok and ugol'. The site includes a
three or four story building (2) facing the road leading to 25 ZAVOD in
rear of which is the RUDNIY DVOR proper.
1. TRANSPORTYON. A conveyor system which hauls materials to the BOL'SHOY
PLAY TSEKH. The conveyor system consisting of three rubber covered
belts, housed by a brick building leading directly to the B.P.TS.
complex, from a level below the battery of BUNKERA.
2. A 3 or 4 story building Musing offices, maintenance shops, and locker
rooms for employees. This building is constructed of red brick. Roof
is covered with tar-paper and periodically covered with tar compound.
3. Two rows of BUNKERA containing materials as described above. This area
is called RUDNIY SKLAD, which is within a building, walls of which are
constructed of cinder blocks. Roof is covered with tar-paper and perio-
dically covered w/ tar compound.
4. Two cranes which service the RUDNIY EM SKLAD. Situated on rollers
at a le*. about 5m below the roof.
5. TRAIORTYON. A conveyor system which hauls materials to BAV or BAF.
6. Three track wide-narrow--gauge combination railroad.
7. Same as 6.
- 2- 5
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E. According to subject, all the industrial buildings f NCER'IISK were
constructed of Cinder Blocks. Both, the B.P.M. and BAV of BAF were
cinder block buildings, with brick used only for small constructions
i.e., additions, repairs to damaged parts. Roofs were covered with
steel meshed reinfooced concrete slabs, whereas previously all roofs
were covered with corrugated steel sheeting which proved impractical
because of weather conditions.
1. The B.P.M. had window area only on the sides of the protrusion hpu-
sing the Bunkera, the construction in the center and top of the buil-
ding.
2. BAV or BAF had windows covering the whole front of the plant, with
some windows placed on both sides of the build&ng. Roof construction
as in E above.
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!GR LEVGL $,p ~s COn~PLEx
RuDNIY DVOR
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