The ceremony took place on 15 September 2026, with Employment Minister Matias Marttinen, Pori Mayor Lauri Inna and FORCIT Chief Executive Joakim Westerlund attending. FORCIT said construction remains on schedule.
“The laying of the foundation stone is a tangible step toward the completion of the production facility,” Westerlund said. “The new TNT production facility will strengthen national security of supply and the capability of the defence industry at a time when demand for explosives has increased significantly across Europe.”
Work began during summer 2026 after the City of Pori issued building permits for the first phase. The company initially secured the approximately 50-hectare production area with perimeter fencing.
The site will include several production, storage and office buildings. Foundation work for the first structures is already under way.
“There is a significant need to increase explosives production capacity in Europe,” Westerlund said. “The production facility being built in Noormarkku responds to this need by strengthening the availability of TNT and supporting the reliability of defence industry supply chains.”
FORCIT said the project also reflects its focus on safety, technical expertise and responsible explosives manufacturing. The Finnish company supplies products and services to both civilian and defence customers and has operated for more than 130 years.
A time capsule was placed in the foundation stone during the ceremony. It contains a charter document, newspapers from the day, a guest list and current coins.
