REDKIYE ELEMENTI PLANT NEAR MOSCOW, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04751A000700010033-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: January 1, 1961
• Content Type: IR

P I C/R- 100 1/61
January 1961
REDKIYE ELEMENT[ PLANT
NEAR
MOSCOW, USSR
Published and Disseminated by
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE CENTER
Declass Review by NIMA / DoD
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REDKIYE ELEMENTI PLANT
NEAR
MOSCOW, USSR
PIC/R-1001/61
January 1961
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PREFACE
PIC/R-1001/61
This photographic intelligence report has been prepared in response
to a request for a detailed drawing of the Redkiye Elementi Plant area and
an estimate of the electric power available to the site. It was further
requested that a search be made to confirm the existence of a large factory
building described in a referenced report.
Aerial photography of -
ground photography were examined in an effort to
answer t e requirement. No photographs are reproduced in the report
because of the poor quality of the photography viewed.
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NAUTICAL MILES
FIGURE 1. GENERAL LOCATION MAP.
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INTRODUCTION
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The Redkiye Elementi Plant (55-38-30N 37-41-10E) is located 5 nau-
tical miles (nm) south of Moscow on the Kashira Highway at Belyayevo.
The plant proper covers an area approximately 5,000 by 1,300 feet on the
northeast side of the highway, with a housing and support area on the
southwest side. A rail line between Lenino and Lyublino passes through
a valley just east of the plant, but the plant appears to be served only by
road and possibly river traffic.
Also known as "Redelem" or Rare Elements Plant A, 1/ the Redkiye
Elementi Plant is a pre-war chemical-metallurgical fac-
tory extracting a number of rare metals from ore concentrates and also
producing certain alloy materials. In the past its production reportedly
included such items as pure cobalt, radium, barium, and hand tool alloys.
2/, 3/, 4/, 5/
A recent report indicates that zirconium metal production was started
here in the late 1940'x. The annual capacity was estimated at 20 tons of
zirconium metal ingots and was reported to be exclusively for nuclear
reactor purposes. 1/ The same report states that the zirconium powder
was obtained by fusion electrolysis of a mixture consisting of potassium-
zirconium-floride (K z ZrF6) and sodium chloride.
Electric power is available through the large (220-kv) Kolomenskoye
substation approximately 1.7 nm northwest of the plant at 55-39-30N
37-38-20E. There is also a thermal power plant at that location. The
electric power grid in the Moscow area should be able to satisfy any re-
quirements of the Redkiye Elementi Plant.
An ore-processing plant located directly across the Moscow River,
may be associated with the plant and is discussed below.
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DESCRIPTION
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This plant has been covered by aerial photography of
and ground photographs of ~~~Wn addition there
have been several collateral reports 1/, 6/, 7/ with accompanying sketches
of the plant facilities. A correlation of the photography with collateral
materials indicates that the plant could consist of as many as five areas
some of which, at least, are separately fenced. It also appears likely that
the reported zirconium production 1/ occupies only a small part of the
plant.
The drawing of the plant area is based on the- photography with
newer buildings added (in green) on the basis of the poor-quality M
photographs. Because of cloud cover, it is impossible to determine the
number of buildings which have been torn down, modified, or added as of
But the drawing does give an approximation of the expansion
that has taken place during the -between the two photographs.
The plant has been divided into five areas JA throw h E and a housin
area Area F as annotated in Figure 2 10
ollowing is a summary of information derive from
the photography an collateral reports with respect to each area.
AREA A
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This appears to be the newest section. of Redkiye Elementi, visible
only on -aerial photographs. It is a walled area with a 980-foot front-
age extending back 1, 230 feet to within 450 feet of the Moscow River. It has
two entrances with guard shacks next to one or possibly both entrances.
There is a 450 by 285-foot multistory building with an open courtyard
(330 by 165 feet) in its center. Possibly six other buildings are located
in this area but cannot be described from the poor-quality photography.
None of the ground photos are of buildings in this area.
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photography with newer buildings added (in green) on the basis of poor-qualitywhotographs.
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AREAS B, C, D
These areas are to a great degree cloud covered on the =overage.
They are separately fenced but distinct area bounds cannot be ascertained.
It is clear from figure 2 that there have been many changes in these areas
since _Old buildings have been removed in many instances and new
ones constructed. One of the-ground photos, CIA .photo No 519800, is
probably of Area B or Area C and shows a few production facilities visible
beyond the high wall. A two-story administrative building with a statue
in front of it can be seen on photos 519801 and 519804. These photos re-
veal construction in progress to the rear of the building and appear to
reported an administration
building and a dispensary. 1/ Although the coverage of these areas is
poor, and accurate measurements are impossible, it is clear that the
production facilities are moderate in size and that some of the buildings
are administrative in nature.
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areas B, C, and D as having -
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Cloud cover in this area is particularly heavy on theihotography.
It appears to be the oldest area of the plant. Most of the buildings seen
on the -photography are visible on the photography even though
modifications undoubtedly have been made t rough the years. Unlike the
other areas discussed there is fairly good coverage of Area E on.
ground photos. CIA photos 519802, 519803, and 519805-519807 reveal
many chemical-processing-type buildings with one large brick stack and
numerous small metal stacks. The perimeter wall is a solid wood fence
topped with barbed wire.
Area E includes a trans-
former building, electrolysis, and fractional crystallization buildings for
zirconium production. 1/ The various process buildings, however, cannot
be identified on the available photography.
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This area has the characteristics of a housing and support area for
the plant. It lies between the village of Belyayevo and the plant. Despite
the heavy cloud cover on hotography, it is evident that Area F has
been greatly expanded wit t e rest of the plant since _ Additions
include a large U-shaped building, a smaller U-shaped building, a rec-
tangular multistory building, two large parallel buildings, possibly bar-
racks or warehouses, and several blocks of smaller dwellings. It has been
reported that Area F
story casino or clubhouse in this area.
Ore-Processing Area. In addition to the areas of the Redkiye Elementi
Plant described above, there is an ore-processing area on the opposite
side of the Moscow River as indicated in the figure. It could very well be
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associated with the rare elements plant since docking facilities were
visible on both sides of the river in It is not clear, however, just
how materials would be carried up the hilly slopes from the river to the
plant.
The ore-processing plant is rail served and has buildings with con-
veyors and stacks for processing of the ores or ore concentrates. There
are numerous smaller buildings, possibly for storage, and a large waste
pile visible on the- photography; the entire area is obscured by clouds
on the ;hotographs, so the present status of the processing plant
cannot be determined.
CONCLUSIONS
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Of course the reported production of zirconium for the atomic energy
program is of significance, but neither the facilities visible nor the colla-
teral information available indicate a very sizable production of zirconium.
It is possible, therefore, that Redkiye Element has served as a pilot plant
for Soviet zirconium production.
The addition of the fenced Area A, visible in - with its large ad-
ministration or laboratory building, and the construction going on in Area
D at the time of the -ground photos are some indications of the con-
tinuing activity at this plant. It is possible that this installation, so near
to Moscow, is at the present time more important from the standpoint of
technology developed than actual production.
In response to a specific request, the radio facilities reported to the
south of the plant were investigated. There is no evidence that these facil-
ities are associated with the plant.
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REFERENCES
GROUND PHOTOGRAPHY
CIA No 519800 through 519807 and 519815, Nov 58 (C)
MAPS OR CHARTS
ACIC. US Air Target Complex Chart - Series 100
1st ed, Aug 56, 1:100, 000 (S)
DOCUMENTS
1.
2.
Army.
Ft. Holabird SDS #2001, N.D. (Info - Sep 44) (S)
3.
Army.
7707 ECIC 100/X (2501) (Info - Jan 43, Source - Feb 44) (C)
4.
Army.
Ft. Holabird SDS #2333, (Source - 42) (S)
5.
USSR.
Redki e Metall Issue 5, 1935 (U)
6.
7.
Army. Moscow, R-3 3-58, 4 Dec
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