Denmark seeks to acquire weapons factory to increase ammunition production for Ukraine
Photo: Troels Lund Poulsen (Getty Images)
The Minister of Defense of Denmark Troels Lund Poulsen stated that the government is working on the purchase of land where the former ammunition factory was located. Ammunition is extremely necessary for Ukraine in the short term, according to DR.
The minister wants to expedite the process and make efforts to purchase the land where the ammunition factory was previously located in Elling, not far from Frederikshavn.
According to the Minister of Defense, he hopes to receive clarification within a month. After that, there is hope that the factory will be used for the intended purpose, for which it was built.
"If we succeed in creating a model where the Armed Forces can step in and facilitate the acquisition of the buildings and get private companies to produce, I believe that in the course of the next few years, we will be able to produce in Denmark," the Minister of Defense said.
What is known about the factory
The ammunition factory has its origins in 1676 when it was founded under the name Fyrværkerikompagniet in Copenhagen. The production of weapons and ammunition for the Danish military was carried out at various addresses before it was assembled in Elling in 1968.
Production here was carried out under the name Ammunitionsarsenalet, the local name "Krudten," and at the peak of its work, it had up to 200 employees.
In 2008, the state sold the factory to the Spanish ammunition manufacturer Expal, which renamed the company to Denex. The company mainly produced rifle ammunition, but old ammunition was also destroyed at the factory.
Expal decided to close Denex in 2020 after several years of losses. At that time, 65 people worked at the factory.
NATO's ammunition production falls behind plans
Last week, the Defense Minister of Norway, Bjørn Arild Gram, announced that NATO lacks ammunition and that there is a huge need for it.
Troels Lund Poulsen, after a meeting in the Ramsstein meeting, said that this is a very big problem that needs to be addressed.
"What has been important today is that many countries also want to take advantage of what is needed. There I think you have to say that ammunition on the short range is completely decisive," the minister said.
One million ammunition for Ukraine
In early May, the Council of the European Union made a decision to assist Ukraine in joint purchases of ammunition and missiles. It is planned to transfer 1 million shells to Ukraine.
Today, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that the European Union will fulfill its promise to deliver one million ammunition to Ukraine by the end of 2023.
