LU-TA CHEMICAL COMBINE KAN-CHING-TZU LU-TA, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000400010014-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2008
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: February 1, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/12 : CIA-RDP79T00909A000400010014-7
Top Secret
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
Basic Imagery Interpretation Report
Lu-ta Chemical Combine Kan-ching-tzu
Lu-ta, China
Top Secret
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 RECORD 1COPY NO. I PUB. DATE LOCATION DATE RECEIVED (LOCATION
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TOP SECRET RUFF
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Lu-ta Chemical Combine Kan-ching-tzu
UTM COORDINATES
51SUD807132
MAP REFERENCE
15th RTS. USATC 20-n
(SECRET
Not Required
The Lu-ta Chemical Combine Kan-ching-tzu was originally built by the
Japanese in the 1930's. Construction of all major production facilities
appeared to be complete on imagery of August 1962. Since then, several plant
facilities have undergone major renovation but the products have remained
substantially the same. This combine produces ammonium nitrate, ammonium
sulfate, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, soda ash, and caustic soda, plus
numerous by-products.
TOP SECRET RUFF
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WAC-P I C 125X1
0381-18-NI
RCS-13/0105/69
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TOP SECRET RUFF
The Lu-ta Chemical Combine Kan-ching-tzu is located near the south
end of the Lia u a on the north edge of Lu-ta Harbor. The Lu-
ta Steel P , the Lu-ta Thermal Power Plant No. 2, Kan- 25X1
the Lu-ta Railroad C Yard North 25X1
and the Lu-ta Port Facilities are located 2bAI
adjacent to the combine. The Lu-ta (Chou-shui-tzu) Airfield lies approximately
2.7 nautical miles west of the combine.
Although the Lu-ta Soda Plant Kan-ching-tzu is listed 25X1
i n the Basic Encyclopedia as a separate target, ! T is an integral part of
the chemical combine and will be included in this report.
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TOP SECRET RUFF
Physical Features
The chemical combine is nearly rectangular in shape and measures
approximately 3,300 by 3,000 feet. It occupies slightly over 200 acres
and is rail and road served. A large pier with raw material handling
facilities extends into the harbor from the southeast corner of the
'combine. The combine is partially secured by a wall.
Operational Functions
Major products of this plant include ammonium nitrate (solid and
possibly 'liquid), ammonium sulfate, sulfuric acid; nitric acid, soda
ash, and caustic soda. Secondary products produced in the coke by-
products section may include benzene, toluene, and creosote. The
specific production areas and major facilities are depicted and annotated
on the line drawing (Figure 3).
Coke is used ih the two water gas retorts to obtain the necessary
hydrogen and nitrogen to make ammonia. There are two generations of
gas and ammonia production equipment. The first generation equipment
for gas production appears at Items
3,
6,
equipment appears at Items 4, 5, 7,
8,
and
and synthesis building, and Item 16
is
the
10, and II, while the newer
9. Item 13 is the old compressor
newer one.
Liquid ammonium nitrate is possibly being produced at Item 19. This
is suggested by the proximity of these production buildings and associated
pipelines to the ammonia and nitric acid facilities and substantial tank
car traffic in the vicinity.
The nitric acid production facilities in Areas C and D appear quite
different from each other. The facilities in Area D appear to be part
of the original Japanese-built plant with large, low pressure absorbers.
Those in Area C are newer and more like the facilities of Russian-built
plants of the late 1950's. Concentrated nitric acid is probably produced
in Area F, as nitric acid and sulfuric acid pipelines can be traced on
photography from their respective production areas into this concentration
facility.
Sulfuric acid is presently produced from pyrite ore by the contact
process. Originally, only the chamber process was used; however, later
this was supplemented by contact equipment. Finally, the original chamber
equipment was replaced with contact processing units. Part of the sulfuric
acid produced is used to make ammonium sulfate and concentrated nitric acid,
and the remainder is shipped out, or piped to the nearby steel plant.
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Soda ash is produced by the Solvay process with sodium chloride and
limestone as the basic raw materials. Ammonium chloride could be produced
as a by-product fertilizer from this process. However, it appears instead
that, for economic reasons, the ammonium chloride is being treated to recover
the ammonia. The distinctive white calcium chloride waste from this recovery
process is discharged behind the breakwater at the soda ash plant. Part of
the soda ash is conveyed to another production area where it is reacted with
milk of lime to make caustic soda by the lime-soda process. The calcium
carbonate formed and precipitated in the process is filtered out and reburned
in the lime kiln to make calcium oxide for the necessary milk of lime.
Construction Chronology
This chemical combine is one of the oldest of its kind in China. The
original production facilities were built by the Japanese in the 1930's.
Over half of the original equipment for ammonia production was removed after
World War II by the Russians. After the Communist Chinese takeover in 1949,
the Russians began to restore this equipment. Major expansion of the ammonia
and nitric acid works took place in the late 1950's. 2/
When first observed on photography of II August 1962, all major production
facilities appeared to be complete, except for one converter tower and some
processing equipmenT adjacent to the new compressor arid synthesis building.
Several major modifications have taken place since 1962.
November 1964 - The ammonium nitrate production buildings had been
greatly modified. Prior to these modifications, this area probably was
used for purposes other than the production of ammonium nitrate fertilizer.
Four large brine preparation tanks had been added to the soda ash plant.
January 1966 - Part of the chamber sulfuric acid equipment had been
removed. In the ammonium nitrate production area, a gasholder had been
removed, thereby completing the modifications to this area. A large gas-
holder had been removed from the ammonia production area near the new com-
pressor and synthesis building.
February 1967 - Several of the newer retorts and one large gasholder
had been removed from the gas production area. The sulfur removal units
at Item 6 were being dismantled. Further modifications to the sulfuric
acid plant had taken place.
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November 1967 - All of the newer water gas retorts had been removed.
Several sulfur removal units at Item 7 were no longer in place. The
sulfuric acid plant had been completely changed over from the chamber
process to the contact process.
September 1968 - Two water gas retorts had been replaced. Further
dismantling of the sulfur removal units at Item 6 had taken place.
Production Activity
Initial coverage of showed the old gas production and
ammonia production facilities to be in operation. However, the gasholders
associated with the new retorts were down which suggested that the new
retorts were not in use. Processing units next to the new compressor
and synthesis building were not installed and the converter towers were
not complete. Bases for seven of eight gas purification units next to
the ssor building were visible on all subsequent coverage through
other production facilities in the combine appeared to be in operation
on the earliest coverage. Rail traffic on subsequent coverage has been
moderately heavy.
they are not needed, or that this compressor and synthesis facility has
never been in operation. The converter tower which was noted under
construction in 1962 had not been completed as of September 1968. All
Since January 1966, production must have fluctuated substantially,
considering the modifications made to the sulfuric acid plant and the
gas production facilities. However, production probably never came to a
complete halt, as one contact sulfuric acid unit and one group of gas
production retorts were always on line.
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15th RTS. US Air Target Chart 200, Sheet M0381-IOHL, 3rd edition,
May 1967, Scale 1:200,000 (SECRET
1. CIA. PIR 75060, Ta-lien (Dairen) Nitrogen Fertilizer Plants,China,
December 1966 (TOP SECRET RUFF)
2. CIA. CRS Installation No. 8015192, Lu-ta Chemical Combine
Kan-ching-tzu, Lu-ta, China (SECRET)
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