Anti-establishment politicians oppose expansion of Rheinmetall plant in Sardinia. The stand-off highlights the difficulties in increasing European arms production in Italy, one of Europe’s major industrial powers, given the country’s strong environmental and pacifist movement. Da Financial Times
Europe’s drive to boost its ammunition production has run into political resistance in Italy, where local officials are opposing Rheinmetall using new production lines at its explosives plant in Sardinia. The German defence company’s local subsidiary, RWM Italia, has been waiting six months for Sardinian authorities to clear its use of new production lines at the plant, which has been working round-the-clock to meet demand from Ukraine and other European militaries. The new lines would sharply increase output at the plant in Domusnovas, and government technical experts deemed the new facilities, including an explosives testing field, environmentally acceptable in April. But Sardinia’s regional council — led by the leftwing populist Five Star Movement — has refused to approve it and demanded more information, citing criticism from local environmentalists and anti-war activists.
