Ukrainian ammunition plant plans raise hopes and security concerns

Plans to build a Ukrainian defense company’s ammunition plant near the town of Balbieriškis in Lithuania’s Prienai district have been welcomed for the jobs they could create, but local residents are concerned about security and say they were not consulted, LRT reported.

Representatives of the local Balbieriškis juda community said they had expected direct discussions with public authorities and the company behind the project, Dnipro Electromechanical Plant, or DEMZ.

Community chairman and Prienai District Council member Algis Marcinkevičius told BNS that he learned about the Ukrainian company’s plans only at around 1 p.m. on Thursday, after reports appeared in the media.

“The first reaction was: why do we know nothing when, so to speak, everything has already happened?” Marcinkevičius said.

He said that communication should take place before decisions are finalised. He compared the situation with an earlier case in Kapčiamiestis, where officials acknowledged that a lack of communication had been a problem.

On Friday, Economy and Innovation Minister Edvinas Grikšas and the head of DEMZ signed an investment agreement in Vilnius. Under the agreement, the company will produce ammunition and ammunition components in Lithuania.

The investment, whose value has not yet been disclosed, is expected to create up to 450 jobs in Alytus and Prienai district.

DEMZ plans to produce metal ammunition components at the Alytus industrial park. In a 30.6-hectare plot in Ąžuolai village, Prienai district, it plans to build a modern ammunition assembly workshop. The site had previously been intended for a Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union drone training base.

Marcinkevičius said he expected at least 40 jobs to go to Balbieriškis residents. He said he had spoken with several residents since the plans were announced, but had not yet heard a unified position. The 55-member community has not discussed the project at a meeting.

“No one really knows anything,” Marcinkevičius said, adding that he had so far detected neither political opposition nor support because residents’ views were still unclear.

He said he would try to convince residents of the plant’s benefits, but questioned his ability to do so without information from the authorities or the company.

According to Marcinkevičius, the planned plot is surrounded by agricultural land and would not directly affect residents under the current general plan. However, he said the project would bring heavy transport and raised questions about paving roads to the plot, reinforcing streets in the town and determining truck routes.