YEN-KUO AND LIU-CHIA HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS, COMMUNIST CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000300320020-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 2000
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: May 26, 1964
• Content Type: MF

ILLEGIB
Approved For Release 2000/08/23 :CIA-RDP78T05439A000300320020-5
Approved For Release 2000/08/23 :CIA-RDP78T05439A000300320020-5
 TCS Igo . 2205/6!-r-Ig3
IB IJo . 226/64
26 liay 1964
Copy ho. ~ _
NSgiOR4Iv'DUAi FOR: Chief, Resources Division, ORR
ATTEN`1'IOIQ 25X1A
THROUGH Chief, Require*:!ents Branch, Reconnaissance Group, CGS
FROM Chief, CIA/PID (IdPIC) -
SUBJECT Yen-kuo and Liu-chia Hydroelectric Power Plants,
Com~nuni st China
RE F r~REIv'CES
ORR Requirement - ORR 41/63
ORR Requi rement - ORR 131/63
CIA/PID Projects C 760/63, C 761/63 and C 770/63
1. This memorandum is forwarded in answer to your above referenced
requirements of the Yen-kuo and Liu-chia Hydroelectric Power Plants located.
near Lan-chou, Communist China.
2. A search and scan was completed from all available photography
covering these facilities for this study. These facilities have been
included in one me?no.randum because of their close proximity to each other '
'and probable influence one wi11 have on the other. Photography from all
_ of the missions having good readable quality was selected for graphics
25X1D in this memorandum. Although a chronological line of development. beginning
in_ to the present period was requested, the earliest overflight
? photography available over these sites was obtained in the late sinner
25X1D period of - The graphics include d, herein, for both facilities,
have been arranged in a chronological order. Pertinent measurements and
annotations a"e included on overlays accompanying figures 5 and 9, which.
deal with the Yen-kuo and Liu-chia sites respectively. The requested
information for both facilities is given separately in the following
paragraphs.
3. The Yen-kuo Hydroelectric Power Plant:
a. Location - The dam t?:as constructed across the Huang Ho approx-
imately 30 nautical miles west of Lan-chou at geographic coordinates 36 041Q -
l03 13E.
Declassification Review by NIMA/DOD
 b. Sipe of Structure - ^l'ne ove-ra11 length of the dam at the top is
100 feet; the height is approximate ly 200 feet (for other r.-,easurements
see Figure 5).
25X1D
c. Construction an_d expansion - Construction on the dam probab~
_
started ~n
Since then the rate of construction
appeared to be
-
slaw, but active.
Activity and progress noted by date
is as fo Vows;
25X1 D
25X1 D
(1) ~ (See Figure 3) - Construction of the-generating portion
of the dam :ppearcd to be well alor_g; the spillway portion was in very
early stages of construction.
(2) - (See Fi~~re ~) - The main dam structure appeared
complete. 4:or.. on the generating portion and spillway portion Baas i n
mid-fir_al stages.
(~) - (See Fi~~re 5) - Wor~_ was underway on the two large
sp~llway sections. A coffer dam and waLk~aays connected the ger_eratir_g
portion and. the spillway portion to the concrete batching area located
. on the west bank of the river. The height of the dam was measured-from
this photography.
(~+) - (See Figure 6) - A11 of the spillways were in use;
the wale-ways were located in the generating portion, between the generator
hall and the spillways. 25X1D
(5) - (See Figure 7) - The dam and associated features
an~eared essentially the same as~it did in - except that two of the
four rectangular openings in the s3am structure were covered at this time.
The buildings that were under construction in the concrete batching and
construction materials area now appear complete. Also, the reservoir and
the river appeared to be higher than noted before on previous photography
~. ,lne Liu-Chia Hydroelectric Power Plant:
a. Location - The dam is under construction across the Huang-Ho approx-
imately 2 nautical miles west southwest of Lan-Chou at geographic coordinates
35 59~~1 - l03 16E.
b. Size of Construction - This dam has been progressing at a very slog
rate. It is being built in a high narrow gorge. The gorge is estimated to
'so 350 - boo feet high, approximately 600 feet across the top and 300 feet
wide at the base (from river level). Activity was noted on all of the en-
closed photography.
c. Construction and expansion - The construction site was active on all
photography. Activity and progress as noted by mission and date is as follows:
(1) ~ (See Figure 8) - Work had not ?began on the dam, however,
25X1 D '
 rreli~iir_ary wort: ~~as under~~ay on both sides of the gorge. The
activity included gradi n_g, gully fillir_g, aggregate storage and
' building construction. 1ne tonne 1_for river diversion, located -
at the base of the gorge on the left barir:, was probably still
under construction at this time. .
i
25X1D (2~ (See Figure 9) - Considerab le progress was "
noted between this photo-mission and the one mentioned above. The
tunnel was completed and operating; a coffer dam was constructed;
work on the base of the daTMl had begun, the width of the base is 25X1D
approximately 200 feet; a batching area was being assemb led; large
a_~^ounts of aggregate and building materials were stored in the Open;
and building ramps were in use. The unusual structures on both sides
of the gorge are probably directly tied into the dam construction ar_d
service equipment similar to that seen at the San-2den Gorge I~ydroelectric
power Plant is present. _
25X1 D
(3~ - (See Figure 10~ - The constructior_ sites appeared
? similar to that seen on the - photography. Construction tvor?~
-was progressing on the dam.
(L~.) - (See Fi gore ?11) - The dam construction was masked
25X1D from view y e gorge top due to obliquity. Three or .four possible
towers are located on the right bank, these may be supporting cab les
suspended across to gorge to supply concrete to the dam construction.
The batching plant appeared completely assembled.
25X1D _ (See Figure 12) - This KEYHOLE P~,ission, 10 days.
(5-)
after the previous mentioned mission, revealed the amount of construction
completed on the dam. It appeared to be at least one third up the gorge.
The long linear structure on the right side of the gorge appeared to
line up with the dam, and will probably tie into it when completed.
25X1 D
(6,) - (See Figure 13) - The dam structure is located
in the shadow. The only change is that the coffer dam appears to have
been removed or was washed away; the river is flowing between the dam
and the right banl: of the gorge. 25X1A
5. The ara7~st assigned to these requirements was zaho may
be contacted on extension 2607 should-you have any questions concerning this memo-
randum. This memorandum and its attachments completes these requirements.
Enclosures:
1 - Annotated heap (CIA~PID~IB-P-711~6~+
12 - Annotated Photo Erlargements
(CIA~PID~IB-P-712~6~+ thru P- f23~6~+
'~ ,..
 TOP SECRET-CHESS-RUFF
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CIA/PID/IL-P-711/64 1
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FIGURE I. LOCATOR MAP.
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MAP DATA:
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SCALE 1:1,000,000
2nd CLASS. ED. 4/63 ,:
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FIGURE 2. OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWING LOCATION OF THE YEN-.KUO AATD LIU-CHIA HYDRO ELECTRIC
POWER PLAI~dTS . PHOTO DATA : b ~N
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FrIGUF~ 5 ? YETv'-KUO HPP. PHOTO DATA:
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 TOP SECRET-CHESS-RUFF
CIA~PID~IB-P-716
FIGURE 6. YEN-KUO HPP. PHOTO DATA:
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 CIA~PID~IB-P-718
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FIGURE ?. LIU-CHIA HPP. PHOTO DATA:
TOP SECRET-CHE$S-RUFF ~-
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CIA/PID/IB-P-721/64 "~` /.~.-
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FIGURE 11. LIU-CHIA.HFP. PHOTO DATA:
TOP SECRET-CHESS-RUFf
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IB-226/6
 TOP SECRET-CHESS-RUFF
CIA~PID~IB-P-72 364
70P SECRET-CHESS-RUFF