REMOVAL OF ETHYLENE

File: cia_62973_62973_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 1
Subject: REMOVAL OF ETHYLENE

Not Finally Evaluated Intelligence







TO FACILITATE ELECTRONIC ACCESS, THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN

REFORMATTED TO ELIMINATE INFORMATION THAT DOES NOT PERTAIN

TO GULF WAR ILLNESS ISSUES OR THAT IS CLASSIFIED. A COPY OF

THIS REDACTED DOCUMENT, IN ORIGINAL FORMAT, IS AVAILABLE ON

REQUEST.







DEC 90





COUNTRY: IRAQ

SUBJ:  REMOVAL OF ETHYLENE FROM IRAQI PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX

NEAR BASRAH

DOI:          NOVEMBER 1990







SUMMARY:  APPROXIMATELY 20 TONS OF ETHYLENE WAS TRANSFERRED FROM

A STORAGE TANK AT PC-1 INTO TWO NITROGEN TANKERS AND THREE,

ONE-TON CYLINDERS, AND TRANSPORTED FROM THE FACILITY DURING

NOVEMBER 1990.









THE

DESTINATION OF THE TANKERS AND THE INTENDED USE OF THE ETHYLENE

ARE UNKNOWN.

TEXT: 1. DURING          NOVEMBER 1990,

APPROXIMATELY 20 TONS OF ETHYLENE WAS TRANSFERRED FROM A

STORAGE TANK AT THE IRAQI PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX NEAR BASRAH

(PC-I) INTO TWO NITROGEN TANKERS AND THREE, ONE-TON CYLINDERS

AND TRANSPORTED OUT OF THE FACILITY.









2.          WHEN CONVERTED, ETHYLENE IS A

SOURCE OF ETHYLENE OXIDE. ETHYLENE OXIDE IS A BUILDING BLOCK

FOR MANY PRODUCTS. IT IS USED TO PRODUCE CHEMICAL WARFARE

WEAPONS







THE CONVERSION OF 20

TO 30 TONS OF ETHYLENE TO ETHYLENE OXIDE WOULD BE SLOW, BUT THE

AMOUNT OF ETHYLENE OXIDE PRODUCED WOULD BE CAPABLE OF MAKING A

LARGE NUMBER OF CHEMICAL WARFARE WEAPONS.

3. THE DESTINATION OF THE TANKERS AND THE INTENDED USE

OF THE ETHYLENE ARE UNKNOWN







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