Eurenco to start mass production of gunpowder in Europe

10 April, 2024 Production of modular charges at Eurenco's facility. Photo credits: Eurenco Eurenco is investing EUR500 million in the production of gunpowder at its plants in Europe.

The French company announced that its facilities in the French commune of Sorgue and the city of Bergerac, in the Swedish city of Karlskoga, and in the Belgian commune of Clermont will receive production investments. Eurenco was founded in 2004 and is a European leader in the explosives production. "Doing more and faster is the task set by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces," the company noted.

The days when the gunpowder plant in Bergerac was at risk of going bankrupt are over.

Production of modular charges at Eurenco's facility. Photo credits: Eurenco

This facility, created during the First World War, has once again become strategic for the French state and the entire European military industry since 2023.

The reason for this is the explosive demand for ammunition after the start of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. The project called PURPLE involves the launch of a fully automated modular line that combines new technologies to improve reliability and productivity. "The goal set for us was to produce 1,200 tons of gunpowder as quickly as possible," Eurenco said.

Production of modular charges at Eurenco's facility.

Photo credits: Eurenco

At the same time, Eurenco is already planning to increase production volumes to 1,800 tons per year. The company's facilities will also double their capacity to produce the metal charges required for 155-mm shells. Mass production will begin by the summer of 2025, and the first propellant charges will arrive in Ukraine in the "first half of 2025."

As previously reported, European arms producers discussed their serious dependence on Chinese materials used in powder production.