Lithuania to grant special status to Rheinmetall’s artillery ammunition factory

By Defence Industry Europe

The Lithuanian government is poised to grant special status to Rheinmetall’s planned 180-million-euro artillery ammunition factory in the northern district of Radviliškis, enabling the German defence giant to bypass normal construction procedures and commence work on the facility immediately.

 

The proposal, drafted by the Economy Ministry, awaits cabinet approval. If passed, the factory will be recognized as a project essential to Lithuania’s immediate defence and security needs. This designation allows Rheinmetall to start construction without the usual permits, which must be obtained before the project’s completion.

The Economy Ministry highlighted that Lithuania currently relies heavily on international markets for its weapons and ammunition, making the nation’s security contingent on foreign suppliers. “To ensure uninterrupted access to necessary arms and ammunition for the Lithuanian Armed Forces, it is crucial to meet the state’s essential needs through economic entities operating within Lithuania,” the draft government resolution states.

The Defence Ministry supports this move, emphasizing that the Rheinmetall factory will secure a steady supply of ammunition for the Lithuanian Armed Forces, especially in times of threat. In April, the Lithuanian parliament passed legislation to facilitate the rapid establishment of major Western arms and ammunition manufacturers in the country. This law allows such projects to begin operations sooner, conduct environmental impact assessments, and obtain construction permits while construction is ongoing.

 

 

Additionally, the legislation permits construction in non-urbanized areas without the usual territorial planning procedures involving local municipalities. Investors are exempt from informing the public about the design process, involving them in project discussions, or disclosing information about the start of construction.

Rheinmetall’s planned investment of over 180 million euros in the 155mm artillery ammunition factory is expected to create at least 150 new jobs in the region. The facility has already been granted the status of a large-scale project. An investment agreement with Rheinmetall, the parent company of the Rheinmetall Group, and Rheinmetall Defence Lietuva, which has been operating in Lithuania since 2018, was signed in early June. The land lease agreement with the German company is expected to be finalized in the first half of July, with construction scheduled to begin in October.

 

Source: lrt.lt

 

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