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Updated July 2008
Chemical Chronology
1965-2008
This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.
1965
Soviet authorities begin construction of the chemical complex in the city of Pavlodar northern Kazakhstan (Pavlodar Plant). The plant was designed to be a dual-purpose facility including both civilian and military production lines, though the military nature of the plant was strictly classified until 1987. However, the plant never produced chemical weapons, since the construction of necessary buildings at the site had not been completed by the time when the Soviet Union halted the CW program.
1987
At the order of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, the CW program is halted in the Soviet Union. As a result, Soviet Authorities stop the construction of facilities at the Pavlodar Plant; some of the buildings primarily designed for CW production are either destroyed or put under conversion efforts in 1987. However, the construction of the other facilities designed for civilian production continues until 1992.
1988-1992
The equipment at the Pavlodar Plant, formerly designated for producing intermediate CW precursors, are converted to the manufacture of organophosphorus compounds for commercial purposes.
1994
The Pavlodar plant becomes a joint-stock company, in which 90 percent of shares belong to the state, and 10 percent to plant employees. The plant falls under the authority of the Kazakhstani Ministry of Energy, Industry, and Trade, which manages the state's shares in the plant. Under Kazakhstani authorities, the Pavlodar plant continues to develop civilian production at the former military facilities.
1998
On 29 June 1998, Kazakhstani Weekly News reported that Kazakhstani government intended to hold an open investment tender on July 23, 1998 for a 90% state stake in Pavlodar Plant. However, further information about tender is not available.
2002
Joint-stock company Kaustik is created on the basis of the Pavlodar chemical plant, in accordance with a decision made at a meeting of the plant's shareholders.
2005
Administrators of Pavlodar chemical plant file for bankruptcy. On 23 August 2005, a court decision declares the company bankrupt and bankruptcy proceedings are initiated.
[Tatyana Kirillova, "Zavod kupil inkognito," Ekspert Kazakhstan, 2 April 2007, http://www.expert.ru.]
2007
On 26 March 2007, Pavlodar chemical plant is purchased for 1.57 billion tenge (the starting price was 973 million tenge) by Bazalt-PV company. The money is used to pay off the company's debts. After the sale, recourse obligations, back wages, and pensions are paid out to workers, back taxes were paid to the state, and other creditors received compensation. A majority of employees of the plant are re-hired by Bazalt-PV company. It's expected that upon completion of bankruptcy proceedings, the owner will start production of chemical products and other types of goods with a "clean slate" in financial terms.
["Kazakhstan: Pavlodar chemical plant's bankruptcy proceedings discussed," Kazinvest, 5 July 2007, http://www.kazinvest.kz; "Kazakhstan: employees of bankrupt Pavlodar chemical plant receive back pay," Kazinform, 4 July 2007.]
