WU-WEI COPPER SMELTER AND REFINERY CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000900010056-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 6, 2008
• Sequence Number: 56
• Publication Date: October 1, 1971
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/10/06: CIA-RDP79T00909A000900010056-6
Top Secret
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
Basic Imagery Interpretation Report
Wu-wei Copper Smelter and Refinery
China
Top Secret
COPY 117 OCTOBER 1971
PAGES 8
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
13/nnnV72
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Wu-wei Copper
UTM COORDINATES
48STT550650
MAP REFERENCE
Smelter and Refinery
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
38-30-OON 102-11-20E
AMS. Series 1505, Sheet NJ48-5, 1st editi
COMIREX NO.
None
;250,000
I NEGATION DATE (If required)
Wu-wei Copper Smelter and Refinery includes ore concentration, smelting, and
refining facilities. The primary product is refined copper. Other metals such
as gold, silver, lead, zinc, and nickel may be extracted from the smelter and
refinery waste products. The plant also contains a possible sulfuric acid
production facility.
The plant was first observed under construction in June 1965. It was
externally complete in August 1966. Between November 1967 and June 1971, the
concentration building was gradually enlarged. No construction was observed
at the plant on the latest coverage in June 1971. The plant was first seen
operating in October 1969, and it has been operating on all coverage since
that time.
This report includes an annotated photograph of the plant and a discussion
of the operational status.
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Wu-wei Copper Smelter and Refinery is located approximately 39 nautical
miles (nm) northwest of Wu-wei, and 170 nm north-northwest of Lan-chou. Other
industrial facilities in the area include Wu-wei Copper Smelter, 1.5 nm west
of the plant, and two power plants in the town of Ho-hsi-pao, approximately
11:5 nm southwest of the plant (see Figures 1 and 2).
Ore is obtained from an open pit mine approximately 2 nm west of the
plant. Electric power is supplied through a transformer yard immediately
south of the plant.
Physical Features
The plant occupies a rectangular area approximately 3,200 by 1,900 feet
containing about 210 acres (see Figure 3). It is at the base of foothills of
the Tung-ta Mountains. There are no apparent physical security measures. Most
of the surrounding area is undeveloped leaving room for expansion.
The plant is served by road and by a rail spur from the main rail line
between Lan-chou and Urumchi.
Operational Functions
The major plant facilities are a concentrator, a smelter, and a refinery.
The plant also contains a possible sulfuric acid production facility and two
unidentified facilities (see Figure 3).
Ore is brought by rail from the mine to the ore receiving building where
it is crushed, ground, and fine-ground. It is then concentrated, sintered in
kilns, and smelted in blast furnaces to form copper matte. The matte is piped
into converters where blister copper is produced by an induced-air process.
The blister copper is then cast into anodes and sent to an electrolytic cell
building where the copper is electrolytically refined in.an acid bath. Copper
anodes produced in the nearby Wu-wei Copper Smelter are also probably refined
in the electrolytic cell building. Acid storage and regeneration facilities
are located east of the refinery.
Waste gases and fumes from the smelting process may be used to produce
sulfuric acid. Waste products from the concentration building and the smelter
may be processed at an unidentified facility west of the smelter for extraction
of other metals present in the ore such as lead, zinc, or nickel. Metals such
as gold and silver may be extracted from the refinery waste at an unidentified
facility north of the refinery.
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Construction and Operational Status
In June 1965 initial site preparations for the copper smelter and refinery
were observed. By August 1965 the refinery and several unidentified facilities
were under construction. In March 1966 foundations for the smelter and concentra-
tion building were evident. In August 1966 the plant was externally complete.
Between November 1967 and June 1971, the concentration building was gradually
enlarged. No construction was observed at the plant on the latest coverage
in June 1971.
The plant was first seen operating in October 1969. Smoke from the stacks
and rail car activity indicate that it has been operating on all coverage since
that time.
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NPIC.I I Non-Ferrous Metals Complex, China, August 1969
Requirement
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Support Number) 25X1
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Top Secret
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