In 2024, the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (RKIK) organized a tender. The purpose of the tender was to find an ammunition manufacturer for the Ämari military base. Three companies participated in the tender: Nitrotol OÜ, ESTDEFIN Production OÜ, and Estonian Ammunition Plant OÜ.
Nitrotol won the tender. Nitrotol gained access to an area of nearly 8900 square meters at the Ämari military base. The company had to establish temporary production facilities there and equip them with necessary machinery.
Estonian Ammunition Plant challenged the tender result. The company obtained preliminary legal protection. This would temporarily halt the establishment of the factory. The company's CEO, Even Tudeberg, said that the tender was aimed at ammunition, but a mine manufacturer won.
On Monday, the Tallinn Administrative Court left the complaint unresolved. The court's spokesperson explained: "The court reviewed both business plans and found that the third party's (Nitrotol) bid was more thorough and clearer than that of the complainant. The court believes both bidders were treated equally."
The court's decision is not yet final. Nitrotol began producing explosives in Ämari at the beginning of December. The company started testing its products ten years ago. Since 2019, the company has been producing military explosives, including mines.
Previously, Estonian laws did not allow the introduction of explosives into explosive materials. This had to be done abroad. The company plans to expand production to the future Tõstamaa Defense Industrial Park as well.