Forcit applies for new permit for Noormarkku explosives factory

The Finnish explosives manufacturer Forcit has submitted a new application for a siting permit for its planned TNT factory in Noormarkku, citing recent legislative changes that could expedite approval for defense-critical production facilities, reports Yle.

The company is simultaneously withdrawing a previous permit application filed in 2025 for the same project. According to a Forcit statement, the new process follows amendments to chemical safety and construction laws that took effect in April, enabling faster permitting for facilities vital to national defense.

“The new application process does not affect the original project timeline,” said Mari Halonen, Forcit’s communications director. “Production is still scheduled to begin in 2028, and preparatory work on the site is progressing as planned.”

The over €200 million factory, classified as a high-risk explosives facility, will produce trinitrotoluene (TNT) primarily for the Finnish Defence Forces. The plant is set to be built in a forested area between Noormarkku’s town center and Poosjärvi lake, on land not currently zoned for industrial use.