The procurement, valued at €189 million excluding VAT, is linked to a project aimed at improving domestic explosives production and ensuring supply security. Forcit Pori Oy will construct a new plant to meet growing demand, expected to employ around 70 people and generate wider benefits in logistics and chemicals.
Minister Häkkänen stressed the strategic importance of the development. “At the Ministry of Defence, we started preparing the construction of a TNT plant to safeguard domestic security of supply in Finland. The Finnish-owned TNT plant in Satakunta ensures that Finland will be able to rely on the domestic industry’s capacity to produce high explosives for heavy ammunition. Once operational, the plant will be an important component of military security of supply in Europe. Our procurement decision will ensure a sufficiently high volume of orders over the long term, making it feasible to build a new plant in Finland,” he said.
In March, Forcit announced plans to invest more than €200 million in the facility, to be built in Noormarkku, Pori. The company confirmed that design work is under way and the permitting process is progressing.
“Forcit is planning to invest more than €200 million in the construction of a new TNT production facility. The facility is planned to be located in Noormarkku, Pori. The design of the facility is ongoing, and the permitting process is progressing, as well,” the company stated.
Explaining the choice of location, Forcit CEO Joakim Westerlund said: “Noormarkku was selected as the location of the production facility based on an extensive overall assessment. The site selected for the TNT production facility enables adequate safety distances, but at the same time its transport connections are good, as the port of Pori is also nearby.”
The company added that the project is being advanced in cooperation with the defence administration, authorities and local communities. According to Forcit, the impacts on defence readiness, supply security and employment will be significant.
