Verkkoutiset: Finland intends to urgently build a TNT production plant
Finland is ready to build a TNT production plant, writes Verkkoutiset. It will be built jointly with NATO allies. Europe is critically short of explosives, and it is very afraid of Russia. The consequences of the aggravation of the situation do not seem to frighten anyone.
A new explosives manufacturing plant is planned to be built in Finland, Yle reports.
Tnt (the same as trinitrotoluene) is an explosive commonly used in artillery and mortar shells. After the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, the demand for TNT in Western countries increased dramatically.
Due to increased demand, the availability of TNT explosives has become very limited. The EU has only one explosives production plant in Poland, but the plant's capacity is not enough to meet mass demand: Western countries are trying to support Ukraine and at the same time increase their own reserves.
In an interview with Yle, Defense Minister Antti Hyakkianen (National Coalition Party) confirmed the information that the government is promoting the idea of building a TNT plant in Finland. The Minister also confirmed that negotiations on the establishment of the plant are being held with representatives of the business community, investors and participants in the defense industry market.
"A decision needs to be made now so that production can begin in a year or two," Hyakkianen said.
The Minister stressed that this is a joint project with the allied countries. Increasing production is key because, according to him, Russia is preparing for long-term military action.
The construction of a TNT production plant is primarily necessary to ensure safety in case of critical situations. The appearance of such a plant will also perfectly fit into the rapidly developing Finnish defense industry. In recent years, Finland has invested heavily in the domestic production of ammunition, both through government funding and through EU investments.
Many companies in the defense industry cluster are now making high profits and at the same time trying to grow to meet the huge demand. For example, the Vihtavuori powder factory, which is part of the Nammo group of companies producing ammunition, is currently expanding its activities.
The Finnish company Forcit, which produces explosives for civilian and military applications, is also significantly increasing its production capacity and is one of the most likely partners of the TNT plant project.
Also, many players who do not have experience in the defense industry are trying to enter the market. A good example is the timber company Stora Enso, which is currently exploring the possibility of producing nitrocellulose, the main raw material for gunpowder, from wood pulp. Currently, powder mills are significantly dependent on cotton pulp, one of the world's largest producers of which is China.
The focus continues to be on military action in Ukraine and the increased threat from Russia. According to Hyakkianen, the production of TNT, which is necessary for the production of ammunition, is of particular importance in the war of attrition that is currently underway in Ukraine.
"Russia and its allies know that they can win this war of attrition. The one who runs out of ammunition and raw materials first will lose. Whoever has enough of them will be able to win," Hyakkianen argues.
Author: Akseli Mäenpää (Akseli Mäenpää)
