Siberian plant's CAD 213M expansion poised for artillery boost
The Biysk Oleum Plant in Siberia is undergoing an expansion to produce RDX explosive material. The investment, valued at approximately CAD 213 million, is expected to be completed in 2025, although this timeline is considered unrealistic. The plant is crucial for the Russian defence industry.
Located about 3,000 kilometres from Moscow, the Biysk Oleum Plant (BOZ) is expanding to produce RDX explosive material, according to "The Moscow Times".
Reuters reports that the investment worth about CAD 213 million is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, although sources close to the project anticipate delays. The plant is owned by Ya.M. Sverdlov, under EU sanctions, as the only Russian producer of RDX and HMX.
RDX, a key component in artillery shells, is valued for its stability and effectiveness. The new production line is set to produce about 6,600 tonnes of RDX per year, enough for roughly 1.28 million 152 mm calibre artillery shells.
Production could commence within 6 to 10 weeks after construction is completed. In 2024, Russia produced about 2 million artillery shells and imported an additional 2.7 million from North Korea.
In August 2023, Denis Manturov, the former Minister of Industry and Trade, visited the plant and confirmed the investment's value. The Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, discussed construction delays with the plant's director. BOZ is out of range of Ukrainian drones, which are increasingly targeting the Russian defence sector.
