Russian defence bolstered by $15 billion RDX plant expansion
The plant in Siberia, Biysk Oleum Plant, is undergoing expansion to produce RDX explosive material. The investment, valued at 15.5 billion rubles, is expected to be completed in 2025, although this timeline is considered unrealistic. The plant is crucial for the Russian defence industry.
Biysk Oleum Plant (BOZ) in Siberia, located about 3,000 kilometres from Moscow, is in the process of expansion aimed at producing RDX explosive material, according to "The Moscow Times".
According to Reuters, the investment worth 15.5 billion rubles is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, although sources close to the project point to 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 6,614 tonnes of RDX per year, enough for approximately 1.28 million 152 mm calibre artillery shells.
Production could start within 6-10 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, then Minister of Industry and Trade, visited the plant and confirmed the investment's value. Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, discussed construction delays with the plant's director. BOZ is out of range of Ukrainian drones, which are increasingly attacking the Russian defence sector.
