SWEBAL Raises €3M to Build Sweden’s First TNT Facility in Over 30 Years
SWEBAL has raised €3M to establish Sweden’s first TNT production site in three decades, targeting 4,000 tonnes annually and strengthening NATO’s ammunition resilience.
Stockholm - Swedish defense startup SWEBAL has secured €3 million in strategic funding to construct the country’s first TNT manufacturing facility since the 1990s, marking a significant step toward rebuilding Europe’s domestic explosives supply chain.
The round includes backing from high-profile investors such as former Swedish Army Chief Maj. Gen. (ret.) Karl Engelbrektson, Apotea founder Pär Svärdson, and EQT co-founder Thomas von Koch.
Addressing Europe’s TNT Supply Crisis
Founded in 2024 by Joakim Sjöblom (former founder of Minna Technologies) and Carl Duforce, SWEBAL aims to tackle the acute TNT shortage in Europe.
While Russia produces around 50,000 tonnes annually, the entire European output barely reaches 6,000 tonnes — a gap that has become increasingly critical as ammunition demand surges.
The planned facility in Nora, Sweden, will target an annual capacity of over 4,000 tonnes, effectively boosting regional production by 75%. Operating 24/7, the site will employ roughly 50 personnel and is expected to reach full-scale production by late 2027.
Funding to Accelerate Permitting and Construction
The newly raised funds will be directed toward environmental permitting, facility design, and site preparation.
SWEBAL submitted its final application to the Swedish Court of Environment in March 2025 and anticipates breaking ground before the end of the year.
Reinforcing NATO’s Ammunition Security
After securing an initial €1 million seed round in late 2024, SWEBAL emerged from stealth mode earlier this year with a clear mission: to localize explosive production and reduce Europe’s reliance on unstable global logistics.
“Our aim is to make Sweden a cornerstone in Europe’s defense-industrial base,” said co-founder Joakim Sjöblom, adding that the project represents a “strategic leap toward ammunition independence.”
Investor Pär Svärdson emphasized both the national and commercial logic behind the initiative:
“It feels natural to invest in the Swedish defense industry — both to contribute and because it could potentially be a very smart investment.”
With this development, Sweden is set to rejoin the core of European explosive manufacturing — a position it hasn’t held in more than three decades.
