SURVEY OF PRIORITY DEFICIENCIES IN RESEARCH ON SINO-SOVIET BLOC MERCHANT MARINES (EIC-S-1 SERIES)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP92B01090R000600010006-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 6, 2012
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: January 19, 1960
• Content Type: MEMO

s- s
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Control No. 4930ZI
EIC-D-395/].
19 January i9 60
the Department of Commerce, and the
International Cooperation Administration
Survey of Priority Deficiencies in Research on
Sinc-50viet Bloc Merchant Marines (EIC-S-1 Series)
RI 2WCE. EIC-B-395, 2 September 1959, same subject
1. In the EIC revrie'r of the above Priority Research Deficiency
Survey, it was noted that the statement hs. not been coordinated with
the EIC Subcommittee on Shipbuilding, which also had some interest in
the field. At the request of the Army EIC representative the survey
was coordinated with th Subccaittee on Shipbuilding and the comaents
of this Subcommittee we?e then forwarded to the EIC Subcommittee on
Transportation for consideration. The Transportation Subcommittee has
now considered and appr~)ved the inclusion of the suggestions of the
Shipbui;.dzng Subcomriiu ee in subject research deficiency survey.
Revised page 'u for the St(.7T-ey of Priority Deficiencies of Research on
Sino-Soviet Bloc Merchant Marines is forwarded herewith.
2. It is requested that you revie-.w the revised page in conjunction
with the portions previuusay submitted to you and submit your comments
and/or approval to the Inc secretariat by
c.o.b. 27 January 1960.
Attachment
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 SECRET
N9 121
THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY OF THE USSR
SECRET
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S-E-C-R-E-T
I. General Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
II. Missile Propellants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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III. Nuclear Energy Chemicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A. Fluorine, Hydrofluoric Acid, and Fluorspar . . . . .
1. Background
IV. Petrochemicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A. Plastics and Chemical Fibers . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Background .
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Synthetic Rubber . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Investment Plans for the Development of the Chemical
Industry . . . . . . . .
A. Background 19
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1. General Background
The chemical industry of the USSR is now second only to that of
the US and produces hundreds of different chemicals that are used
in many branches of industry. Of particular importance from the point
of view of intelligence is the contribution of the chemical industry
to production of military end items. Chemicals are used extensively
in production of propellants for guided missiles, materials for nuclear
weapons; and explosives for conventional munitions as well as in pro-
duction of parts for aircraft, missiles, and radar installations. In
addition to such strategic uses, chemicals are used in large quantities
in machine building, metallurgy, mining, petroleum refining, light in-
dustry, and agriculture.
Under the new Soviet Seven Year Plan (1959-65) an almost threefold
growth is planned for the Soviet chemical industry. More than 100 bil-
lion rubles are to be invested in plants and equipment for the chemical
and supporting industries. One hundred and forty new plants are to be
built or completed, and 130 existing plants are to be modernized or
expanded. Particular emphasis is to be placed on expansion of the
petrochemical industry and on production of plastics, synthetic fibers,
synthetic rubber, and other products from petrochemical raw materials.
Although the USSR is in a favorable position with regard to the
raw materials required for the planned expansion of chemical production,
the availability of chemical equipment and technology -- particularly for
petrochemicals -- may prove to be a formidable obstacle to attainment of
the planned goals. Strenuous efforts are being made by the USSR to
purchase such technology and equipment from Free World countries, and
some success has already been achieved.
 II. Missile Propellants
A.. Background
Although Soviet statements about the ?uel'that is used to
launch Soviet earth satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles
are vague and may be applied to many types of fuels, it is believed
that the thrust for these rockets is provided by a liquid propellant
system. Some of the fuels and oxidizers that may be used or may be
under development are as follows: kerosine, alcohol, hydrazine and
other amines, liquid oxygen, ozone, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide,
fluorine, boron, and lithium compounds.
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 S-E-C-R-E-T
The following three groups of chemicals have considerable poten-
tial as qualitative and quantitative indicators of the nature of the
Soviet nuclear energy program: fluorine, hydrofluoric acid, and
fluorspar; calcium and calcium chloride; and lithium, lithium com-
pounds, and lithium ores.
A. Fluorine, Hydrofluoric Acid, and Fluorspar
1. Background
The consumption of hydrofluoric acid and fluorine in a
nuclear energy program is related to the output of fissionable ma-
terials. Unfortunately there is no direct information on production
or consumption of hydrofluoric acid or fluorine in the USSR. This
situation has necessitated reliance on analysis of information on
supply and consumption of fluorspar in the USSR as the only practical
approach to an estimate of the amounts of hydrofluoric acid and
fluorine available to the nuclear energy program.
Available information on hydrofluoric acid provides little
indication of the level of production but does suggest that hydro-
fluoric acid is produced at the following plants:
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IV. Petrochemicals
A. Plastics and Chemical Fibers
1. Background
The USSR reportedly ranks fifth in the world in produc-
tion of plastics and sixth in production of chemical fibers. A rapid
expansion is planned for these industries during the period of the
Seven Year Plan (1959-65), when about one-half of the 100 billion to
105 billion rubles planned for investment in the chemical industry
is to be used to construct enterprises for production of plastics,
chemical fibers, synthetic rubber, and alcohol. Achievement of the
expansion planned in these fields probably will depend to a large
extent on Soviet success in obtaining technology and equipment from
the West. During recent months the USSR has been trying to purchase
technology and plants of the above types from the West and has been
partially successful.
The available information on production of plastics in
the USSR is inadequate. One Soviet source states that 206,000 metric
tons were produced in 1957, and another gives 243,500 metric tons.
It is probable that neither figure is suitable for comparison with
US production, for it is believed that the reported Soviet production
includes sizable quantities of fillers, plasticizers, and other ma-
terials. For example, one report states that production of fluoro-
carbons and related products in 1957 was 20,000 metric tons. The
large size of this figure in relation to the estimated small size
of current Soviet production of fluorocarbon plastics raises the
question of what materials are included in this category and what
actual amounts of fluorocarbon are produced.
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 V. Investment Plans for the Development of the Chemical Industry
A. Background
The USSR plans to invest more than 100 billion rubles in the
development of the chemical industry during the period of the Seven
Year Plan. It has been reported that about one-half of the investment
in the chemical industry in this period is scheduled for the construc-
tion of enterprises for production of plastics, chemical fibers, syn-
thetic rubber, and alcohol.
! The USSR has announced plans for the increase in production
(1965 above 1958) of a limited number of chemical products, includ-
ing synthetic rubber, plastics, chemical fibers, mineral fertilizers,
and ethyl alcohol.
The Ministry of the Chemical Industry was replaced in 1958
by the State Committee of Chemistry attached to the Soviet of Minis-
ters. Little is known of the functions and responsibilities of the
new Committee.
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