The plant of Chemring Nobel at Sætre in Asker produces explosive chemicals that are used to make ammunition. A waste material from production is nitrogen, which is discharged into the Oslo Fjord. Nitrogen from waste water, industry and agriculture is one of the main causes of the environmental problems in the Oslo Fjord. WILL MAKE MORE: Chemring Nobel’s factory at Sætre in Asker makes explosives that are used in artillery shells and other munitions that are in demand for the war in Ukraine. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news The Ministry of Climate and Environment has nevertheless given the factory permission to quintuple its nitrogen emissions, from up to 41 to 200 tonnes a year, until 2028, writes Teknisk ukeblad. The reason is that the government will increase the production of ammunition. After large donations to Ukraine, Norway’s own stocks must be replenished. Then more of the chemicals from Chemring, which is one of the few western manufacturers, is needed. – Although there are good environmental arguments against this permission, I therefore believe it is still right to give permission for the production increase at Chemring Nobel, says climate and environment minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen (Ap) in a press release. GREAT NEED: Ukraine needs approx. 7,000 artillery shells every single day in the war against Russia, according to the country’s own authorities. The production of ammunition in the West is far from meeting the demand. Photo: AFP Already bad condition In 2022, Chemring Nobel released 20.7 tonnes of nitrogen into the sea, according to the Norwegian Environment Agency. This is 1 percent of the total nitrogen emissions in Indre Oslofjord. If the emissions increase to 200 tonnes per year, Chemring will be responsible for almost 10 per cent of the nitrogen pollution in the Inner Oslofjord. – When the discharge of total nitrogen reaches a three-digit number of tonnes per year, it starts to become large, says senior researcher André Staalstrøm at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research to news. CRITICAL: Oceanographer André Staalstrøm believes Photo: Nadir Alam / news – Then it goes in the opposite direction of what we need. It may be difficult to achieve ecologically good condition, as the state has decided, says Staalstrøm. He says that the state of nitrogen pollution in the area around Chemring is already classified as bad. – So there is a need for the supply to be reduced, believes the researcher. He says it is at least positive that Chemring releases the nitrogen at a depth of 55 metres. Then the nitrogen ends up under the water layer, where algae and phytoplankton thrive best, and does less damage. CHOKE: Lurv is one of the algae that lives on nitrogen supplied to the Oslo Fjord. It forms a coating on seaweed and kelp, and suffocates the plants on the seabed. Then the environment the cod needs to survive also disappears. Photo: NIVA The permit can be tightened The Norwegian Environment Agency writes in its assessment of the application that the increased emissions “are not acceptable in light of the state of the Oslofjord”. They believe that the emissions could deteriorate the condition of the sea even more. In addition, the permit contravenes the objectives in the water regulations and in the action plan the government has adopted for the Oslo Fjord. Chemring’s permit expires on 1 January 2028. By then, the ministry requires Chemring to take measures to cut emissions to even lower levels than today. Every year, the company must report on the status of emissions and measures to reduce them. The Directorate can lower the permitted emission limit if it is possible. The CEO of Chemring Nobel, Helge Husby, tells Teknisk ukeblad that the company is constantly working to reduce emissions and their effects. – Seen from Chemring Nobel’s side, this has been an orderly process, says Husby to TU. LONG HISTORY: Chemring Nobel’s explosives factory is located at Sætre in Asker municipality. Explosives have been produced there since 1876. The factory has approx. 145 employees and is owned by the British company Chemring Group, one of the world’s largest explosives manufacturers.
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Norway needs more ammunition, the Chemring Nobel explosives factory will have fivefold its emissions – Greater Oslo
