France Resumes Production of Gunpowder for 100,000 Artillery Shells per Year

The company Eurenco has resumed the production of gunpowder for artillery shells in France after a 17-year hiatus. On March 20, a new line capable of producing 1,200 tons of gunpowder per year was officially launched at the factory in the city of Bergerac. This volume is sufficient to manufacture approximately 100,000 155 mm caliber munitions, a significant portion of which is intended for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This is reported by AgroReview

The resumption of production is part of France’s and the European Union’s strategy to strengthen the defense sector in light of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Production was initiated six months ahead of schedule, and the facility is currently operating in test mode. Full operational capacity is expected to be reached by summer. By 2027, there are plans to increase the output of shells in France to 200,000 units, which will require the gunpowder production in Bergerac to reach 1,800 tons per year.

Company’s Future Plans

Additionally, the company is developing a new line for the production of 1.2 million propelling charges per year. This new production will operate around the clock, seven days a week. The resumption of gunpowder production in France required an investment of €100 million, half of which was provided by the state.