Denmark’s defense ministry will resume munitions production after a 55-year hiatus to support its domestic needs as the war in Ukraine creates increased demand for military materials in Europe, Reuters reported.

The ministry announced in a statement on Saturday that it had struck a deal to buy a disused arms factory in the northwest of the country, which served as Denmark’s sole ammunition supplier from its founding in 1676 until 1968.

The ministry said it agreed to pay 19.6 million Danish kroner ($2.8 million) to buy back the factory in Elling, North Jutland, which it sold for 18 million kroner in 2008, the Ritzau news agency reported, citing information from the defense minister. Troels Lund. Poulsen.

“Ammunition production in Europe is under serious pressure and we must also try to find a solution in Denmark to contribute where we can based on Denmark’s needs,” Lund Poulsen said in a statement.

“It will take some time before we are ready for production, but it is also good that we are getting started now,” added Lund Poulsen.

The statement did not provide details on the type of ammunition that the plant, which is being bought from a consortium called Krudten Erhvervspark, will produce.

The plant was previously owned by a private Spanish company and was in use until 2020.