SSU-PING CHEMICAL PLANT SSU-PING, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000400010023-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2008
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: May 1, 1970
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/12 : CIA-RDP79T00909A000400010023-7
Top Secret
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
Basic Imageiy Interpretation Report
Ssu-ping Chemical Plant
(BE Name: Ssu-ping Petrochemical Plant)
Ssu-ping, China
Top Secret
RCS 13/0008/70
25X1
DATE MAY 1970
COPY 117
PAGES 5
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TOP SECRET RUFF
Ssu-ping Petrochemical Plant*
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
RCS-13/0008/70
51TXH130805 143-10-36N 124-23-05E
MAP REFERENCE
USATC,Series 200, Sheet M0290-6HL, 4th ed, Feb 68, Scale 1:200,000
(SECRET
*The installation name and category code given in the data block are from the Basic
Encyclopedia. As a result of this study, action has been initiated to change the
installation name to Ssu-ping Chemical Plant and the category code to 25000.
This installation is not a petrochemical plant. All available photography
from May 1963 through August 1969 indicates that the plant produces chemical
products, including bleaching powder and possibly vinylon synthetic fiber. It
also reportedly produces hydrochloric acid, caustic soda, and acetylene. These
chemicals may be produced in the two unidentified production areas in the plant,
but the facilities for their production have not been identified on photography.
According to collateral information, the plant was originally built to
produce and refine synthetic crude oil. This original plant was partially
dismantled and then destroyed during the mid-to-late 1940's. When the present
chemical plant was first observed on overhead photography in May 1963, most of
the current production facilities were complete and operating, and they have
been operating on all subsequent coverage. A modern chemical processing facility,
possibly for vinylon, was constructed between May 1963 and November 1964. It was
first seen operating in December 1966 and it has been operating on all subsequent
photographic coverage.
This report includes an annotated photograph, a construction chronology, and
a discussion of operational status.
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This installation is located in the northeast section of Ssu-ping, Kirin
Province (See Figure I). Electric power is supplied by the regional grid
through the Ssu-ping Transformer Station
According to collateral information, the plant was originally designed to
produce and refine synthetic crude oil obtained by destructive distillation of
coal. The facilities were reportedly complete and the plant was operating near
the end of World War II. A large part of the production equipment was removed by
the Soviets in late 1945, however, and the remaining plant facilities were destroyed
as a result of fighting between Nationalist and Communist Chinese during 1946 and
1947. 1/ Collateral intelligence reports indicate that when the plant was
reconstructed, it was no longer producing synthetic oil but instead was making
chemical products. 2/ 3/ Only the remains of the former synthetic fuels plant
have been seen on overhead photography.
The plant occupies an irregular-shaped, walled area which measures about
4,400 by 3,400 feet and contains 345 acres. It is served by a good all-weather
road system and by a spur from the Ssu-ping to Kuo-chia-tien rail line.
Facilities have been identified at the plant for the production of bleaching
powder and possibly for vinylon. The bleaching powder production area contains
Beckman towers where chlorine is combined with calcium and sodium hydroxides.
A modern chemical processing facility which could be a synthetic fiber plant
was built during the same time period in which collateral reports indicate a
vinylon plant was constructed. 2/ 3/ Facilities to produce hydrochloric acid,
caustic soda, and acetylene at the plant, reported by collateral information,
cannot be confirmed from photographic analysis, but they possibly are located
in the two unidentified production areas.
Most of the buildings and facilities were present when the plant was first
seen on May 1963 photography. Between May 1963 and November 1964 the chemical
processing facility and the steam plant were built. Since that time there have
been only minor additions and modifications to the plant.
The possible vinylon plant was first seen in operation in December 1966 and
? has been observed operating on all subsequent coverage. The bleaching powder and
other production facilities were operating when first seen in May 1963 and have
been operating on all subsequent photographic coverage.
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US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet M0290-6H1. 4th edition
February 1968. Scale 1:200,000 (SECRET
1Ssu-ping-chieh Oil Conversion Plant, 16 August
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Installation of Japanese Vinylon Plant in Ssu-ping, 25X1
Kirin Province, II February 1965, (Confidential)
3. DOD.I ISsu-ping Chemical Plant, 29 August 1966,
(Confidential
Reqirement
COMIREX N02
Support Number 420119
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