MINING DEVELOPMENTS/AUSTRIA'S OUTPUT OF IRON ORES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R000400400005-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 26, 1999
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 1, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

A A!ved For Releaev ? -tDP83-00423R0004004
SECURITY INFORMATIO- 25X1A2g
it '
Country.; Austria
Subject: Mining Developments/Austria's Output of Iron Ores
Place Acquired:
25X1A6a
Date Acquired:
Date of Info: 1937 - Apr 53 25X1 X6
1. AUSTRIA OPENS SECOND STEEL REFINING PLANT PRODUCING OXYGEN STEEL
(a) After the VOeST fnited Austrian Iron and Steel Work) 90-ton
oxygen steel refining plant went into operation on 5 Jan 53, the
Donawitz Plant of the Alpine Montan Society of Austria is to resume
production operation during second half of April 1953.
(b) The Donawitz plant, working along with the VOeST in the research
for the new refining method, has finished the three and one half year
phase of studies to go into production of SK fauerstoff Oxygen-Konverter
Stahg steel. Its production will close the gap between the demands for
raw steel and the present production rate. During.l953 Austria's
nationalized iron and steel industry hopes to produce between 1,100,000
and 1,400,000 metric tons of steel, and about 1,200,000 metric tons of
raw iron.
2. NICKEL FOR AUSTRIA
Austria is to receive 207.9 metric tons of nickel (first smelting
Schmelzung and oxides) during the second quarter of 1953, as against
221.9 metric tons during 1953's first quarter, April 19537.
25X1A9a
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3. ALUMINUM PRODUCTION
(a) The final data p9527 on Austrian aluminum production were released.
The United Aluminum Works of Ranshofen, Upper Austria province, produced
30,500 metric tons of raw aluminum during 1952. The increased power
supply (boosted to 750 kw-h millions) will permit a 1953 production
total of 36 thousand metric tons, or 5,500 metric tons more than in 1952.
(b) The Salzburger Aluminum Gesellschaft of Lend, Salzburg province, recorded
an output of 5,500 metric tons during 1952. After the benefits of raised
power supply to this Alpine factory come into effect during early May 1953tbetota1w
production will reach about seven thousand metric tons of raw :.aluminum.
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Austria's nationalized aluminum industry thus will produce at least
43 thousand metric tons of raw aluminum during 1953.
i. STYRIAN MONTAN PRODUCTION
Most concentrated of Austria's mining and iron industry, the northern
part of Styria province, recorded increases and setbacks during 1953's
first month, when the following data were released last week in Vienna:
Item
January 1953
Average month 1952
Iron Ore
211,820 mt
207,325 mt
Magnesite
35,683
3+,133
Talcum
2,750
3,685
Graphite
952
1,316
Quarzite
2,850
1,549
I n p r o d u c t i o n:
Raw Iron
27,986
30,106
Steel
58,15-
61,625
The lower production in some of the mining enterprises was ascribed
to the very bad weather conditions in the Alpine mining regions, especially
at all open pit installations.
5. NEWS FROM THE CO ANIES:
The copper ore enterprise of PRAEGARTEN (East Tyrol) has been ordered
to have the former Public Administrator removed. Reason for the
removal is the decision of the Austrian court that the former owner,
the West German "GERERKSCHAFT GLUECK" is entitled to have a manager of
their own choice as their representative there. The Praegarten copper
mine is a former German asset, handed over to Austrian trusteeship
pending the signing of a state treaty,April 19537.
6. DANUBE RIVER SERVES AS MAJOR MEANS OF TRANSPORT
The following data describes the importance of the Danube River
for the transport of ore and iron. The rate could be higher, experts
in Vienna said, if political tensions (Soviet demarcation lines, etc)
did not hinder free travel.
Item
1950
1951
1952
.
Iron Ore
tons:
5,618
9,197
93,244+
Pig Iron
tons:
65,937
166,408
307,885
Iron ore comes in the third place of all river transports, after
coal and coke, while pig iron occupies the second spot.
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7. AUSTRIA'S OUTPUT OF IRON ORES
(a) In the list below, the first one covering the years of German
operation, connecting the pre-World War II period and the post World War II
output, shows a very uneven production level. This is.due to the fact
that the German Government, in disregard of production cost and by use
of forced (slave) labor increased the output of ore far beyond the level
Austria would have mined for its own processing industry and for its export
business.
(b) The drop in production after World War II (see table: 1945 to 1947)
was mainly caused by the removal of mining machinery by Soviet Red Army
units who temporarily occupied northern Styria, the center of the iron
ore business of Austria. It is estimated that mining machinery and field
equipment of at least US$ 25 million was removed, leaving only the
outdated and inoperative equipment for Austrian use. After the four months
stay of the Reed Army there, the Zone was cleared for British Occupation,
under which control Styria and Carinthia still are April 1957.
Output Iron Gres
in Metric Tons
1937
1,884,694
1938
2,669,823
1939
2,997,524
1940
3,186,139
1941
21895,025
1942
2,996,912
1943
3,188,459
1944
3,014,909
1945
323,775
1946
462,106
1947
884,936
1948
1,197,251
1949
1,487,616
1950
1,859,643
1951
2,369,708
1952
2,652,611
(c) Of the figures listed above, 87% have been mined at the Erzberg
(Ore Mountain) of northern Styria. The dependence of Austrian ore
production on conditions on the Erzberg, for that reason, is clearly
visible.
SECURITY INFORMATION
Approved For Release 1999/09/27 : CIA-RDP83-00423R000400400005-8