HUNGARIAN POWER PLANTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002700700002-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 18, 1999
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: January 1, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

FORM NO. 51-4A
SEPT. 1948
CLASSIFICATION 54111MEr
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 ? CIA-RDP82-00457R002700700002-7
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY Hungary
Hungary
SUBJECT Hungarian Power Plants
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF IN
25X1X6
25X1A6a
25X1A2g
25X1A9sj
DATE DISTR. 20 1VIA.Y 1949
NO. OF PAGES 8
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
25X1A2g
Hungarian Power Plants
1. During 1948 approximately ninety percent of Hungary's power and distributing
plants were nationalized and put under the central administration of AVIRT
(Allami Villamosmtivek r.t.---National Electric Works Company), A few small
communal power plants were still independently operated at the end of 1948,
including those in Debreczen, Sdtorelja-Ujhely, Kecskemet, Nies, B4k4csaba,
and Vlszeg. The following power plants are now under the general administra-
tion of AVIRT.
Power Plants in Mining Areas
Tata
Dorog
Zagyva--Rona
Omio
MAza SziszvAr
Ifirpalota
Brennberg
EgOlisehi
Barcika
Kurilyg:n
Document No.
NO OHLNCE in class. D
Li
T).:(.1;LAF:7175i:77.)
clasn.
Dni,c' 1 6 i
Production costs per kilowatt are too high
:at the Kuriiyki and Mdr plants to permit
continuous operation and they are held in
reserve in' the event of interruptions at -
the Zagyva-Rona plant.
16 MAY 19.71
.Power Plants of the Magyar Dunatuli Villamossagi r.t.
Bnhida Gy8r I, which formerly belonged to QVIRT
Ajka Gy8r II, whicho,formerly belonged to MAVAG
(Magyar Allami Vagon es GelpgyZr r.t.--
Hungarian National Railroad Car and
Machine Factory) .
Power Plants of TRUST (R4szvinytlirsas4g azlekedisi s Elektromos Mtvek
Communications and Electrical Works, Ltd.)
PhgbusUjpest
NyitegyhgZa
Szeged
Orosh6a
Hodmezo Vasarhely, held as a reserve for the
Szeged plant,
LF1CATJQJLII
STATE
%
pi vJVU rul
NAVY
,
t... laZo.,..
NSRB
DIS :
As r .v -

ARMY
-I--
'
AIR
--
FBI
,
"11113gHIMIlli
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002700700002-7
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
25X1A2g
Power 'Plantsof the BSZEM(Budapest Sz4kesf8vdrosi Elektromos Mfivek)
Kelenald
Revesz ucca, Budapest
Csaki ucca, Budapest
Power Plant of Matravid4ici Eromu
Lgrinc
Coal Consumption of Caloric Power Plants
2. During the first year of the three-year plan, from 1 August 1947 to
31 July 1948, the caloric power plants of Hungary consumed 1,850,000
tons of coal, and it was estimated that this would increase to 2,250,000
tons, approximately 21 percent, during 1949 because of the greater use
of electric power by industry. Rural electrification projects are re-
ported to be relatively insignificant in increasing the overall con-
sumption of power. It is planned that the smaller plants will consume
approximately 10 percent of the coal allditBd to caloric power plants
during 1949* The new power plant at Lri?c, which is scheduled to begin
production in August 1949, will use 35,000 tons during the latter part
of the year. The remainder of the coal allfted to power plants is to be
distributed at a monthly rate of 166,650 tons among the following plants:
Tata
Dorog
Zagyva-Rona
amid'
Mgia SzgSzvgi?
VgiTalota
Brennberg
Egercsehi
Barcika
Bghhida
Ajka
GOT. I
GY8r II
Ph8bus-Ujpest
Szeged
NyiregyhAa
Kia Kun Halas
Oroshiza
Kelenfgld, including
two, plants on Revesz
Csaki ucca, Budapest
23,000 tons
7,500
11,000
4,500
3,000
5,000
1,000
500
7,000
32,000
25,000
1,500
1,500
5,000
1,500 .
1,500
50
1,1E00
the
and
35.000
Total 166,650 tons
3, The Power Piant of Tata at Tatabanya uses an average of 920 tons of coal
daily, 90 percent of which is slate coal with caloric value of 3,300 to
318500and 10 percent is pea coal, caloric value 5,000.* The plant could
use lower grade coals with a minimum caloric value of 3,000. Coal is trans-
ported from the sorting station at the Tata mines directly to the power
plant by a system of rubber belt conveyors and cable cars. The plant burns
an average of 1.25 kilograms of coal for every kilowatt of electricity pro-
duced and supplies the Tata coal mines, aluminum, cement, and carbide factories
in the area, a bricket plant, and a coal ahydration plant.* The Tata plant
is capable of supplying some power to the city of Budapest through con tions
with the power net of the BSZEM (Budapest Sz4kesfovarfsiElektromos e and
with the power plant at Bkihida. Through the power lines of the Pannonia
Villamossagi r.t., it can also supply an unknown amount of power to the Fejer
and Veszprem districts, A temporary line connecting the Tata and Dorog plants
through the LAbatlan power plant was installed during the second world war,
but was replaced in 1948 by a permanent 60 kilovolt line which will enable
the two plants to completent one another during power shortages.
The Power Plant at Dorog uses an average of 300 tons of coal daily, 30 percent
of which is slate coal from the Dorog or Tokied mines with a caloric value of
2,800 to 3,300 and 70 percent of which is powder coal from the Dorog mine with
a caloric value of 4,400. The powder coal comes directly from the mine by
rubber belt conveyors. Two modern boild
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : Cifilailikki08.010Mtritiatt2-7?.?
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : Cl
CENTRAL I
2-00457R002700700002-7
CE AGENCY
25X1A2g
earmav....,Ammeg
rubber belt conveyors. Two modern boils were installed during the last
war and are capable of using powder goal with a minimum caloric value of
2,700 but the older equipment is obsolete and can use only coal with a
caloric value of from 4,500 to 5,000. The plant supplies power to coal
and carbide mines in the area, a coal ahydration plant, and to local con-
sumers in Dorog,Zsztergom, and Szob. Power lines connect it with plants at
Komarom and Tata, Through Pmarom power can be/supplied to the Hungarian
Viscose Factory at Nyergeadjfalu and to the Gy8r I plant. During the war,
current was also supplied to the Vacuum Oil Refinery at Almisfilzite and the
MAORT refinery at Uj-Sz8ny. The power plant at Libatian is unprofitable
to operate an&is kept as a reserve for the Dorog plant. The transformer
stations at Dorog, Esztergom, Almdsfilzit6 and Komarom arf connected with
the Dorog plant.
5. The Zagyya-Rona Power Plant uses a daily average of 440 tons of coal, part
of which is pea coal from the Silgdtirjan and Zagyva-Rona mines and part is
slate and powder coal from the Kistarenye mines with a caloric value of 2,800
to 3,400. The plant can use all coals of lower grades and is supplied by rail
and truck. 1,8 kilograms of coal are burned for each kilowatt output. Two
modern boilers using powder coal, built in 1938 and destroyed by the re-
treating Germans in 19440 were repaired and put back into operation during the
summer of 1948. The plant supplies local coal mines, a glass factory, a
ferrosilicon plant, and the Rimamuriny-Sald-Taridni Vasmi! Rdszvenytgrsasig,
A 100 kilovolt line connects it with Salgetdrjan, Hatvan, Szolnok, and the
new power plant at 1,6rinc. Two small power plants connected with the Rima
iron works and the Selypi Cukorgydr r.t, act as reserves for the Zagyva-Rona
power plant.
The Power Plant at K8m16 uses an average of 180 tons of coal daily 3 per-
cent of which is slate coal with a caloric value of 3,600 to 4000 cipeitro*cent
of which is powder coal with a caloric value of 5,500 shipped by rail from
the K8m16 mines. The plant uses only coal with a high caloric value and con-
sumes 1.1 kilograms of coal per kilowatt of electricity produaed. Power
lines connect K8m16 with the plant at MdZa-Sz6zvdr. According to the five-
year plan, the KeM14 power plant is to be considerably expanded in coordina-
tion with the wider development of local coal mines and plans for the erection
of a smelting plant in the area.
7. The Power Plant t z -Szdszvir consumes an average of 120 tons of coal per
day, 30 percen s coal with a caloric value of 3,400 to 3,500 fromlines
at Mini* and Szdszv4r1and 70 percent is pea coal with a caloric value of
3,600 from the Mdnjok and Miza mines. The equipment is obsolete and 1.6 kilo-
grams of coal are consumed for each kilowatt of power produced. The plant is
connected with the power plant at K8m1d.
The Power Plant at Vdrpalota uses an average of 200 tons of coal daily, 35 per-
cent of which is refined powder coal with a caloric value of 4,000 and 65 per-
cent of which is raw lignite pea coal with a caloric value of 2,100. Approxi-
mately 30 percent of the coal allatird.the Vdrpalota plant is used in producing
steam for a coal ahydration plant. The Vdrpalota power plant is connected
with the power plants at Filzfd'and Pt and with the power lines of the Pannonia
Villamossagi r.t. The plant can use all varieties of small grained lignite.
The ahydrated powder coal used comes from a nearby ahydration plant and thd
raw lignite comes directly from the VIrpalota mines.
The Power Plant at Brennberg consumes 40 tons of coal daily, 80 percent
of which is powder cooltand 20 percent is nut coal with a caloric value of
5,300 to 5,400 obtained 'from the Brennberg mines. The equipment of the
plant is obsolete and production is to be terminated in the near future.
At present, only the coal mines in the immediate vicinity are supplied with
power from the Brennberg plant.
10. The Power Plant at Egercsehi is operated sporadically to supplement the power
plant connected with the cement factory at Bdiapdtfalva which is the main
source of supply for the Egercsehi mines, Egercsehi uses an average of 20 tons
of coal per day with a caloric value of 3,900 to 4,000.
11, The Power Plant at Barcika uses an average of 240 tons of sifted pea coal per
day from. t171;74Z7;37171-117;s7 The caloric value of the coal used during the
winter months when the demand for power is unusually high is 3,400 to 3,600.
During the remainder of the year the plant uses all varieties of Borad coal
with caloric values ranging from 2,300 to 3,800. Coal reaches the plant by ,
rail Barcika power is suppo
Approved For Release 1Pnc"Aclin? 'SitErPR7-00457R002700700002-7
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 ? r'maiza1tiatko-n0457Rq02700700002-7
CENT414164DELLIGENCE AGENCY 25X1A2g
.4.
rail. Barcika power is supplied to the coal mines of Bors4d and to local
consumers in the Borsed, Eger, and GAngyds areas, Connecting power lines
through Miskolc link Barcika with the power plant at D16sgyAr.
12, Theltectric Plant at Sao-Kesznyiten is a small plant which delivers
its entire power to D-i2V3-rTr7
13. The Power Plant at Banhida is one of the most important in Hungary and con-
sumes an average of 1,344 tons per day of 0-30 mm blended coal with a caloric
value of 40150. The blend consists of 74 percent slate coal with a caloric
value of 3,850 and 26 percent pea coal with a caloric value of 50000, all of
which is obtained from the Tata mines, A deviation of 200 calories iwthe
grade ,of coal used is possible without noticeable effect in efficienbyi, but
during tests in 1948 it was discovered that exclusive use of unblended slate
coal requires a 10 percent increase in tonnage volume which cannot be supported
by the cable car system running between the Tata mines and the Banhida power
plant. Although there are railroad sidings near the plant, there are no
facilities for unloading coal shipped by rail and the plant is dependent upon
the continuous operation of the cable car system which has a top maximum daily
capacity of 1,700 tons. The cable cars pick up coal from the coal-sorting
station at Fe1s(4galla and empty it into a receiving bin with a capacity of
8,000 tons at Banhida. On the return trip the cars carry slag which is emptied
along the route. The plant uses 1.1 kilograms of coal per kilowatt of power
produced and is equipped with six boilers and three generators. If unblended
slate coal is used, corrosion in the La Monte type tubes is doubled and the
boilers must be cleaned frequently. The minimum caloric value of coal which
can be used in the plant is 3,300 to 3,400. The water supply for the plant
is obtained from a nearby dam, The Banhida plant supplies monthly approximate-
ly 7-90000,000 llowatts to the Budapest trolley system; 1,0000000 kilowatts
to the MAV (Magya Allam Vasutka-Hungarian National Railroads), repair ship
in Budapest, Istvan ut; 4-50000,000 kilabatts to the Budapest-Hegyeshalom rail-
roads 8-12,000,000 kilowatts to the KelenAld power plant, and the remaining
2-4,000,000 kilowatts to Gygr and vicinity.
14. The Power Plant at consumes a daily averape of 1,000 tons of powder coal
with a caloric value of 3,200 to 3,600 from the Ajka mines. LThe Ajka mines
do not produce sufficient powder coal to supply the plant, however, and larger
coal must be ground in the plant by a grinder with a 1,000 ton daily capacity
before it can be used. According to source, the continuous operation of this
grinder is necessary to keep the plant in production, One kilogram of coal is
consumed for each kilowatt of power produced. Coal is shipped over the Ajka-
Csingerv81gy railroad from the Ajka mines in specially built cars and is emptied
into two bunkers with a total capacity of 8,000-10,000 tons, The powder coal
is carried by rubber belt conveyors directly from one of these bunkers to the
boilers and the larger coal is taken from the other bunker by conveyor to the
grinder and thence to the boilers. The plant can use coal of any quality with
a minimum caloric value of 2,900. The plant at Ajka is one of Use most modern
in Hungary and was built during the war with six bailers and three generators,
each with a capacity of 16,000 kilowatts. Thus far the plat has operated
on only two generators but it was planned to bring the third generator into
use by the summer of 1949 in order to feed a new Ajka-Gy8r 100 kilovolt power
line which is still under construction. The construction of the plant during
the war was intended primarily to supply power to an unidentified aluminum
factory in Ajka, This aluminum factory still consumes the greater part of Ajkals
power output and production is to be increased,further to meet the needs of new
vats being installed. The aluminum factory had an average of 85 vats in opera-
tion until August 1948 at which time the number was increased to 112 vats, It
is estimated that 135 vats will be in use during 1949,
15. The Gy6r I Power Plant consumes a daily average of 60 tons of blended Tata
and Dorog pea coal and central Pannonia coal, The blend consists of 50 per-
cent Tata-Dorog pea coal with a caloric value of 4,500 to 5,000 and 50 percent
central Pannonia coal from Mr and Duder with a caloric value of 3,400 to 3,600.
The plant uses 1.5 kilograms of coal per kilowatt of power produced and supplies
the city of GyNr and vicinity. The output of Gy6r I can be supplemented by the
Banhida power plant if necessary,
16. The Gy8r II Power Plant consumes a daily average* of 60 tons of blended coal,
50 percent of which is Tata or Dorog pea coal with a caloric value of 4,500
to 5,000 or slate coal with a caloric value of 3,600 to 3,850 and 50 percent
is 0-30 mm Dudar and Mr coal with a caloric value of 3,400 to 3,600, 1.2 kilo-
grams of coal are consumed for each kilowatt of power produced. Gy8r II sup-
plies the MAVAG, railroad car and machine factory, at Gy8r and, if the power
supply is insufficient, can be supplemented by the power plant at Banhida.
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIASaa00457R002700700002-7
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CREMNix&-00457R002700700002-7
CENTRALEIGENCE AGENCY
-___n 25X1A2g
17. The Pabus-Ulpest Plant consumes an average of 200 tons of blended coal
per day consisting of 70 percent Tata and Dorog pea coal with a caloric
value of 4,500 to 5,000 and 30 percent N6gr4d and Pilisszentivdh pea coal with
a caloric value of 3,200 to 4,200. Approximately 1.4 kilograms of coal are
consumed for eNwry kilowatt of power output.Ndgrdd coal is the lowest grade
which can be used at this plant but does not permit full operating efficiency.
During 1945-46 unblended Ndgrdd coal was used bYtheating oil or powder coal from
Tata had to be injected to aid combustion. Coal supplies are _shipped from the
mines via the railroad yards of Budapest-Magdolnavaros. The Pabus-Ujpest
plant supplies power for the city, of Ujpest and its industries, including the
Egyestilt izzbldmpa e's Vil1amoss4gi r.t.0 the Leiner glue factory, and the
Ujpest-Vae railroad, but additional power must be drawn from the central power
plant of Budapest (BSZEM).
18. The Power Plant at Szeged consumes an average of 60 tons of blended coal per
day consisting of 80 percent Tata pea coal with a caloric value of 5,000 and
20 percent NdgrAd pea coal with a caloric value of 3,200 to 3,800. It con-
sumes 1.6 kilograms of coal per kilowatt of power output. The Szeged plant
supplies Szeged and the vicinity, including Hodomezo Vasarhely, The Szeged
Oitelley system, and flood control stations near Szeged, The output of the
plant could be supplemented or partly replaced by that of a small power plant
in Hodomezo Vasarhely.
19 The Power Plant oflylregyhe(za consumes an average of 60 tons of BorsKd coal
per day consisting of 0-20 sized pea coal, 5-20 sized powderless pea coal,
or 0-80 and 20-80 "alma" or shaft coal with an overall caloric value of 2,600
to 3,600, The plant uses 2.5 kilograms of coal per kilowatt of power pro-
duced and supplies Nyiregyhiza and vicinity. A high tension line connects
it with the power plant at Debrecsag.
The Power Plant of Kis Nun Halas is a small plant which uses 50 tons of coal
per month consisting of 20-40 or 20-80 Negrdd nut and square coal with a caloric
value of 3,400 to 40000.
21. The Power Plant at 0rosh4za burns an average of 40 to 45 tons of blended coal
per day consisting of 25 to 30 percent Tata pea coal with a caloric value of
5,000 and 70 to 75 percent Ndgrdd pea coal with a caloric value of 3,200 to 3,
3,800* The plant consumes 2 kilograms of coal per kilowatt of power output
and supplies Oroshlza and vioinity.
22. The BSZEM Power Plant at Kelenf81d-Budapest is the most important in Hungary,
according to source, and is the main source of electric power supply for the
city of Budapest and the industries concentrated ip that area. The power
plants at Bgnhida and Tata, the new plant at Virile*, and the smaller plants
at Dorog and Ph8bus-Ujpest could provide additional current in emergencies,
but full capacity output of the industries in the Budapest area is dependent
upon power from the Kelenftld plant. During the spring and summer months the
plant, including the smaller installations on Revesz ucca, consumes 1,350 to
1,400 tons of blended coal per day, consisting of 70 percent Tata and Dorog
pea coal with a caloric value of 4,500 to 5,000 and 30 percent Ndgrgd and
Mogyor6s pea coal with a caloric value of 3,300 to 1,800. During the winter
the proportion of Tata and Dorog coal Is increased to 80 percent. The plant
consumes 1 kilogram of coal per kilowatt of power output or, if Tata and
Dorog coal were used exclusively, 0.9 kilograms of coal per kilowatt would
be consumed. The smaller plant on Revesz ucca, which uses the same quality
of coal, is operated only during the winter and consumes 3 kilograms of coal
per kilowatt of output. The plant on Csaki ucca is insignificant, according
to source. Uninterrupted deliveries of coal from Tata and Dorog are essential
to the operation of the Kelenf6ld plant and to most of the other large Hun-
garian caloric power plants. Coal with a minimum caloric value of 3,500 to
3,700 can be used at Kelenf8ld but at a considerable sacrifice in efficiency
due to divergent points of ignition, height of flame, water and phosphorous
contents and quantities of slag. Only 10 to 15 percent of the coal used can
have a pitch residue so that P4cs and KtImld coal can be used only in limited
quantities to replace Tata and Dorog coal. Smaller mines would be unable, for
the most part, to supply pea coal because many of them do not have facilities
for sorting. Boiler water is taken from wells_near the Kelenfad plant and
cooling water is obtained from the Danube( AAwisasetwas built on the Danube
)
""m?919801?6wwwoo
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002700700002-7
Approved For Release 1999/09/09: NiNifiatk00457R0027007000027
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
"Mlitiarmie
ee.? a6e,
25X1A2g
during the autumn of 1947 for barge traffic but handles only 5 percent, or 2;000
to 3,000 tons) of Kelenfaldrts coal per month because of its limited size. The
remaining 95 percent reaches the plant by tail through the KelenAld yards and
is unloaded automatically Iktbl'IeP1140% 'Vita talettfetrt,m, Slag is removed
from the furnace* by a small gage railroad system. One of the most vulnerable
points in the transportation of coal from the Tata and Dorog mines is the rail-
road bridge at Bia-Torb(gy which, if it became impossible to use for any reason,
would compel Hungarian railroads to make large detours and increase the shortage
in available railroad cars.
23, arince.Matravidgk Power Plant
During the early 1930's it became obvious that within a few years existing power
plants would be incapable of supplying power to new industries growing up in
the Budapest area and that a new, larger plant was necessary. It was decided
that this power plant should be designed to use Hungary's large resources of
lignite in the azsaszentmarton, Gygngy8s, Torony, and VArpalota regions in
order to conserve limited coal supplies for other purposes. The choice of a
location for the plant fell to the Rdzsaszentmarton-Selyeb-Perenye Puszta area
between Saletbjan and Hatvan where there are considerable reserves of lignite
with a caloric content of 1,500 to 1,900. It was believed that by grinding the
lignite and .ahydrating pieces more than 20 mm in diameter the caloric content
could be increased by 1,800 calories. A grinding and ahydration plant was erected
in Perenye Puszta for this purpose. Construction was begun during the war and the
plant, with six boilers and three generators, a water supply system, a cable car
line carrying ground lignite from the grinding and ahydration plant at Perenye
Puszta to the Lgrinc plant, and workers quarter, was completed in the summer of
1944, The mines at Rdzeaszentmarton were developed at the same time, but the
Soviet army dismantled the whole installation in 1945, In 1946 the Hungarian
Government decided to re-equip the Lgrinc plant and ordered one new .g_snerator
in Switzerland from the firm Sulzer and Company And two others from Glanz 4s Tqrsa
Villamossagi r.t. in Budapest. The planning office had at first requested that
the first generator be put into operation in November 1949 but the date was later
advanced to August. Power lines to Budapest have already been completed and a
temporary line has been erected to Salgdtdrjan carrying power from Kelenf8ld to
an unidentified Ferrosilicon plant and the Zagyva Rona power plant. During the
fall of 1948 a new power line was begun which will connect Lgrinc with the iron
works at Digs Gy8r and with the power plant at Barcika. According to official
estimates, the Urine plant will consume 2,000 tons of lignite per day when all
three generators are in operation. The development of the lignite mines at
RAzaszentmarton is progressing according to schedule and production is expected
to reach 10300 tons per day by August 1949, The lignite grinding and ahydration
plant is in production but has only 100 ton capacity per day at present. The
148rinc power plant is expected to relieve the demand for power in the Budapest
area which could only be met during the winter of 1948-49 by full exploitation
of all sources regardless of unit cost of output. If for any reason the Lgrinc
plant cannot be put into operation by the fall of 1949, source believes that
private consumers will be strictly rationed to permit maintenance of production
in essential industries in the Budapest area.
24, Other. Power Plants under AVIRT Administration
There is a small hydro-electric ?plant at Gibgrt which is capable of supplying
some power to the city of Miskqld,and to Dilis Gy8r, A small auxiliary caloric
planteis connected with the Ecsid Swamp Reclamation Project, which normally re-
ceived power from Uzhorod in Sub-Carpathian Ruthenia. The plant operates for
one or two month ? in each year when Uzhorod power fails, and it consumes ape,
proximately 160/W5month during that period. The power plant at D14s Gy8r
uses all varieties of 86401coa1 which,is shipped partly by rail and partly by
truck from Perenye Puszta, but theBleika and SAlgot6jan power plants could
easily cover any loss in output at Di ds Gy8r. Another small power plant services
the city of Pit. This plant uses lignite which is obtained directly from the
coal sorting station at VIrpalota and reaches the plant by cable car
25. Plants not yet under AVIRT Administration
There are a few communal power plants in Hungary which are still under independent
administration, but they too are to be nationalized in the near future. They
consume a yearly average of approximately 225,000 tons of coal and produce 5 or 6
percent of the total electric power of Hungary. Most of these are small plants
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002700700002-7
Approved For Release 1999/09/090010457R002700700002-7
CENTWCZNELLIGENCE AGENCY
?110-70.
25X1A2g
with obsolete machinery and use the coal sourdes closest to them; for example
the Debrel6nplant, one of the largest in this category, uses coal from N6grdd
and Bdrsd ; Kosskemet uses coal from Tata and N6gr4d; K8szeg uses coal from
V4rpalota, Sopron, and Brennberg. Another of the larger plants is that of
the city of Pdcs, but it is now Soviet-controlled. The setup of the Pica plant
is similar to that of KNIld;(8ae paragraph 6 above), During the last war the
power plant connected with the Manfred Weiss factory in Csepel drew approximately
1,2000000 kilowatts from Kelenfgld in addition to its own output. For ef-
ficient operation the Weiss electric plant needs a mixture containing a minimum
of 70 percent Tata and Dorog high grade coal, but oil and tar can also be used
as fuel,
26. Projected Power Plants
During the war construction was begun on electric power installations in an
alum plant at Alm4sfhitig0 but work was interrupted in 1944 and was not con-
tinued until the spring of 1948. The project was scheduled-Tor completion
during 1959. The capacity of this power plant is not knowniPut when the plan
was initiated in 1942 there were two alternate plans, one of which called for
a yearly consumption of 31.64p00 tons of Tata and Dorog coal and another which
called for a yearly consumption of 240,000 tons. Wartime construction was begun
on the basis of the 160,000 ton plan because of coal shortages, but it is no
known whether the project was continued on the same basis after the wareind there
was some discussion that plans should be altered to adapt the plant to the use
of Pusztav?m coal with a caloric value of 3,600. AVIRT technical experts took
issue with the conception of connecting the installations with the alum plant
and thought that the construction of a larger plant which could supply power to
the whole of Pannonia and provide steam for the alum plant should be substituted.
Other than AlmAsfdzitli, logical sites for a larger poorer plant would be near
the Pusztavlan mines or in the vicinity of 1.11:nye where a large coal ahydration
plant is to be built. According to the five-year plan, an additional power
plant is to be built in the ars& region, possibly near the SajdfRiver, which
can utilize unmarketable powder coal from the Bc(rsda mines with a low caloric
value of 1,900 to 2,800. A survey commission visited the Bdrs8d region in
December. 1948 to investigate the possibilities of constructing this plant.
V
Miscellaneous
27.
Prior to 1 August 1948 the MASZ (Magyar Allami Szegnialny4k r.t.---Hungarian
National Coal Hines) wasj.,he central administration for all Hungarian coal
mineaibut? on that date, its functions were decentralized and alletted to
district coal mining administrations, The central distribution of coal for
industrial establishments is effected by the "Ipari 8z4nel1dt& r.t." (Industrial
Coal Supply Company) and for private consumption by TUKERT (Tilzifa Kereskedelmi
r.to?Food Commercial Company),
28. In the spring of 1948 AVIRT planned the electrification of between 900 and 1,000
villages in accordance with the five-year plan. The schedule of 200 villages
washeicceded by 50 by the end of 1948, and an additional 330 villages are to be
completed during 1949. The villages were requested to share 50 percent of the
expenses involvedrin the electrification, either in cash or by furnishing wooden
poles, labor, tra6sportation and other services. The remaining 50 percent was
advanced to the villages on credit.
29. Two of the most difficult problems faced in AVIRT construction projects have
been the procurement of creosoted poles and duraluminwn cable. The greater
part of Hungaryts limited output of poles is arloted to railroads, postal services,
and coal mines so that the State Forestry Administration (MALLERD) was able to
provide AVIRT with only 2,500 cubic meters during 1948. To cover the rest of
its requirements AVIRT imported 4,000 cubic meters of poles from Jugoslavia,
1,100 cubic meters of creosoted poles from Czechoslovakia, and 800 cubic meters
of ordinary poles from Austria. The poles of Austrian origin were falsely entered
on shipping, documents as mining and bridge construction beams. During 1949,
20,000 cubic meters of poles will be needed for village electrification projects
and an additional 5-6,000 cubic meters for the maintenance of existing lines,
3,500 cubic meters of MALLERDts total planned production of 7,500 cubic meters
of poles during the 'winter of 1948449 has been alldleld to AVIRT? Jugoslavia has
contracted to deliver 11,900 cubic meters of poles sk 25 dollars per cubic meter
and Czechoslovakia has agreed to provide 2,000 cubic meters of creosoted poles
and 5,000 cubic meters of uncreosoted poles during 1949. AVIRT attempted to
obtain further supplies from Rumania, Poland, and the Carpatho-Ukraine but the
Soviet Union refused to consider the request. No other contracts Could be made
with Rumania and Poland.
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA41-114?9S6457R002700700002-7
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : ay11082-00457R002700700002-7
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
25X1A2g
30. Because of the shortage of creosote and the limited capacities of creosoting
plants, the processing of electric poles has presented considerable prob-
lems. There are four creosoting plants in Hungary at present; those at
Puspokladany and Dombovar owned by the MAV, one at Tokod owned by Fatelito
r.t., and one at Budapest on Soroksari ut owned by Rutgers r.t. The Rutgers
plant was destroyed during the war and was brought back into production in
August 1948 after repairs costing 170,000 forints. The plant has a capacity
of 30 cubic meters per day. AVIRTSd specifications call for the use of
60 kilograms of cote for each cubic meter of wood impregnated, but, be-
cause of oil shortages, the greater part of these electric poles have been
processed with 30 kilograms of creosote per cubic meter and then with
"tanalit acid" solution.*** Hungarian authorities were reluctant to accept
this type of impregnation because it had never been tested in Hungary, al-
though it had been in use in Germany and the United Kingdom for a number
of years. Creosote is obtained from the Budapest Gas Works, the P4es Coke
Plant, and the coal distilleries of Dorog and Tata.
31. According to source, Hungary has an ample supply of aluminumsand cable
manufacturing facilities are adequate so that he was unable to explain the
shortage of duraluminum cable. During the first half of 1948 the average
production of lead cable in Hungary was 20 to 25 kilometers per month and
this was expected to increase to 40 kilometers per mobth by the second
quarter of 1949. Until., September 1948 lead cable was produced only by
Felten is Guilleaume KAbel r.t., Budapest, but sineethat date the partly
reconstructed plant of Magyar-Siemens Mfivek VillamassogLeat., Budapest,
has begun to produce some cable and expects to receive additional machinery in
the near future. AVIRT's monthly requiremehts of lead cable are approximate-
ly 2 kilometers; BSZEM needs 9 or 10 kilometers; MASZ 6 kilometers; and NI1814F
3 kilometers of lead cable per month. The remainder of Hungary's production
is distributed by a special committee which meets once every three months
among other state organizations competing individually for priorities.
320 Z?hnny on the Hungarian-Ruthenian border was one of the villages electrified
by AVIRT and 210 poles were required to complete the work. According to
source, eitht tracks have been added to the ahony marshalling yard for
transfer of rail shipments to Soviet wide gauge lines.
33. Hungarian poem' plants have suffered from shortages of transformer oil,
which was entirely imported from the West in the pasta, and of ball bean-
inga. During the summer of 1948 AVIRT purchased ball bearings in Switzer-
land through a Hungarian intermediary Gozon FICKLER, who is net otherwise
identified
25X1A6a
25X1A6a
25X1A6a-
25X1A6a
Comment: Throughout this report source has used the following
designations of coal sizes which are widely used throughout Europe. The
numbers designate the minimum and maximum diameters in millimeters of any
particular grade.
Powder coal 0-5 mm
Pea coal 0m20 mm
Powderless
pea coal 5-20 mm
2 mm
Nut coal 0440
"Kocka" or
square coal
Lump coal 40-2
I: and above
"Akna" coal is unsorted or shaft coal
**IIIIIII1Comment: Source was unable to provide a term more readily trans-
, Iktbable into English to describe the "ahydration" process. As he has
explained it, ahydration is the removal of part of the water content of
lignite by subjecting it to treatment with overheated or "dry" steam.
The process is related to, but is not identical with. systems of dehydration.
*41-111.1siernment: This probably refers to the Wellhouse or Zinc-tannin process.
411111Comment i Central Directorate for Heavy Industry.
argil=
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002700700002-7