AUSTRIAN REFINERIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R001900920003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 4, 2000
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: May 31, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Relydse 2000/04/18 : CI
2
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of which in any manner to an unauthorized per-
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY son is prohibited by law.
ON (Date or dates, on or between which,
ns described in report existed)
INFORMATION REPORT This material contains information affecting the
National Defense of the United States within the
meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U. S. C.
PREPARED AND DISSEMINATED BY Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation
1. No changes were recorded during the past four years in the outfitting, the
capacity, or the ownership of Austrian refineries. The Soviets are at present
operating five units out of seven in Austria. The two units remaining, under
Austrian management, work under Soviet supervision and in complete
dependence on the Soviet Mineral Oil Administration of Vienna,
2. The five refineries were taken over by the Soviets after the Potsdam Conference
of 1945 turned over all German property in the Soviet area of occupation into
Soviet hands. In the Austrian State Treaty talks from 1945 to 195+ the Soviets
agreed to return but one unit - at Veesendorf - to the Austrians, and to retain
the other four for a period of 25 years. The Voesendorf unit is estimated
to have a capacity of 190 thousand metric tons/year; during 1954 almost 100%
of this capacity was actually utilized.
3. Under the present State Treaty negotiations, the Soviets have agreed to turn
all oil production, processing, and marketing companies now under Soviet
ownership and management over to the Austrians, in return for an annual
delivery of one million metric tons during the next 10 years. For this
reparation (worth 0175 million to $190 million in Central Europe) the
Austrians will gain full control over the 1,00 thousand metric tons/year
refining capacity now held by the Soviets, in addition to the two Austrian-
managed units, which altogether have an annual capacity of 400 thousand
metric tons. (These two units suffered most during the past 10 years, for
every reduction in Soviet refining orders was imposed on these two refineries,
which therefore utilized capacity only between 45 and 50%. )
1+. After the probable conclusion of the State Treaty, Austria's oil industry,
nationalized since 19+5/1946, will face the problem of outfitting the outdated
refineries. While no plans yet have been drawn up, difficulties are expected
due to the Soviets' demand, in agreeing to let the Austrian oil industry
become free, that foreign capital be excluded from the future financing of
the industry.
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