New Production Plant in Nora

SWEBAL has started the initial planning of constructing a large scale, sustainable manufacturing plant in Nora, Sweden.

The new plant is part of the company's strategy so strengthen the defensive capabilities of Sweden and our allies.

The production is estimated to start in 2027.

This website contain information about the construction project and detailed information for citizens living in proximity of the planned establishement.

Background

The European supply chain for ammunition production faces major challenges. Today, there is only one factory for large-scale production of trinitrotoluene (TNT) in Europe, located in Poland. The EU and NATO intend to triple their ammunition production capacity, and explosives in particular is a bottleneck with long lead times. It is in Sweden's defense interest to ensure local security of supply.

Location

Forested area suitable for construction

Layout

Conceptual draft

samrådsunderlag Sweden Ballistics, version 2.pdf

Consultation Summit

Click on the picture to download the documention for consultation
(only available in Swedish)

About the Plant

The image shows a concept layout of the buildings and associated infrastructure that are intended to be built in connection with the project.

The largest building inside the green walls is the process building itself, measuring 10*40 meters. The highest point of 28 meters is the tower at the top right of the image, a building that is used to reconcentrate raw materials in order to reduce waste and mitigate environmental impact.

Environment and Safety

The company is working intensively to reduce risks to both humans and the environment.
The Consultation Documents above contains more detailed information.

Safety Distance

In dialogue with MSB, distances are calculated to ensure civil protection during operation and any accidents.

Seveso Plant

The company is in dialogue with the County Administrative Board and MSB to ensure compliance with the EU's Seveso Directive regarding chemical handling.

Odors, Noise, and Transportation

The operation will not generate any odors or noise. The impact on the surrounding area is limited to increase in traffic.

Consultation Process and Permits

The permit process started with a consultation in accordance with the Environmental Code with the aim of informing about planned activities and obtaining opinions before submitting the permit application. The next step is to submit documentation to the court of environment.

Documentation from the Public Consultation Meeting is available below.

Samrådsprocessen och Tillståndsansökan

Thank you for your participation and feedback!

After the consultation meeting, we have made several changes as part of the design process. A few examples includes:

We will not have any open incineration as part of red water waste management
We will conduct further analysis on heavy rain and extinguishing water to assess potential consequences
We will conduct further analysis in relation to birds and plants
We are assessing the opportunity to allocate a larger surrounding area to ensure we retain the forest, and by doing so mitigate impact from light, noice and impact to the landscape picture
We are creating 3D models and visualization to demonstrate how the plant will be percieved from different angles
We are making a local analysis on how we can contribute to recreational opportunies in the surronding areas

Even if the formal consultation has ended, we welcome continous feedback and proposals. These are best sent through e-mail to carl@swebal.com.

Samrådsmöte_SWEBAL_Nora.pdf

SWEBAL Presentation

From the Public Consultation Meeting
(Swedish only)

Samrådsmöte_SWEBAL_WSP_Nora.pdf

WSP Presentation

From the Public Consultation Meeting
(Swedish Only)

Anteckningar samråd allmänhet SWEBAL 250113.pdf

Protocol and Notes

From the Public Consultation Meeting
(Swedish Only)

FAQ

Click on the question for further information

Why does SWEBAL establish a TNT manufactuing plant?

Sweden's and NATO's ability to produce components is far below the ability required to prevent and deter a future conflict. There are several components and materials that are in global shortage, TNT is one of these. To strengthen our resilience and ensure security of supply, we are now re-establishing production in Sweden, something we had until the 1990s when Nobelkrut in Karlskoga was discontinued.

Why Nora?

Nora has a unique combination of cutting-edge expertise in explosives, a municipal leadership that works hard to enable growth and Nora also belongs to the Örebro region, part of the Swedish Security Corridor which collaborates to strengthen the Swedish defense industry.

How many jobs will be created?

Around fifty employees will work directly at the factory, followed by good opportunities in the service industry and local subcontractors to support the establishment.

When does construction start?

Financing for the project looks good and we intend to put the shovel in the ground as soon as the Land and Environmental Court allows, hopefully by the end of 2025.

When does production start?

The company expects the project to take approximately two years from the time construction begins.

How will transportation to and from the plant work?

Material is brought in and out by truck or tanker. The company will invest in local warehousing and reconcentration to reduce the number of transports. In addition to loading and unloading, employees will also need to travel to work by car given the safety distances.

How is electricity and water connected?

Electricity and water will be connected to municipal systems.

Is there any risk of explosion for me who live in Nora?

Working with explosives is always a risk. TNT as a chemical compound is a very stable explosive and is in no way self-igniting, which is one reason why it is used in the militarily. It can be transported in poor conditions without exposing the user to risk. The most common reason for accidents is caused by the human factor and here the company works with the best possible technology and process design to make this impossible. This is about personnel safety: How can we work safely and at the same time have a fun/motivating work environment!

When it comes to external security, the facility will have both physical and digital surveillance in combination with strict restrictions on employee permissions. All employees are required to be Swedish citizens and undergo security screening and training.

The company works in consultation with the Armed Forces and relevant authorities to control and prevent international threats, this risk is considered low but not non-existent.

NATO's principle of deterrence is about reducing and preventing the risk of attack by ensuring strong defense.

Is there any chemical risk for me who live in Nora?

Transport of materials to and from the facility is carried out according to strict safety regulations such as ADR, while the handling of chemicals within the facility is regulated by the EU's Seveso Directive to minimize risks to people and the environment.

How do I contact the company?

You can reach SWEBAL at info@swebal.com.
Permits, consultations and supervision are led by Operations Manager Carl Duforce who can be reached at carl@swebal.com.
For media, sales or investor relations, contact CEO Joakim Sjöblom at joakim@swebal.com

Who owns the company?

SWEBAL has 100% swedish ownership and investors.

How do I express my opinion in the permit or consultation process?

Questions or comments should be sent in writing to pontus.halldin@wsp.com or by post to WSP, Östra Bangatan 9, 703 61 Örebro.

Opinions or further thoughts

Comments regarding the planned activities and the delimitation of the environmental impact statement should be sent in writing to pontus.halldin@wsp.com or by post to WSP, Östra Bangatan 9, 703 61 Örebro and must be received no later than 12.00 CET 14 February 2025 in order to be processed in the application documents.

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