Ammo Production by Norway’s Nammo Hit as Local Grid Promises More Power to TikTok Data Centre

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, inks agreement with Elvia electricity network company for its “power-guzzling” facility in Hamar, Norway.

Raufoss Industripark, Norway, houses 50 companies including Nammo Aerospace and Defence group’s headquarters.

Hamar and Raufoss are located on the opposite banks of lake Mjøsa.

Nammo has ramped up weapons production to replenish worldwide stocks and to make ammunition available for war-torn Ukraine. Limited power is available for companies around Raufoss.

“The authorities must choose between storing cat videos and securing critical social functions,” Nammo CEO Morten Brandtzæg told local news outlet VG.

Fredrik Tangeraas, communications director at Nammo, said “Norway will be made a laughing stock in the NATO” if TikTok hampers with the country’s arms production.

“We are worried about the potential for espionage, the uncertainty surrounding national interests and our access to electricity,” Øivind Hansebråte, Raufoss Næringspark MD said.

TikTok's deputy director for government relations in Europe, Theo Bertram, told local media that the company is “not Chinese, despite Chinese co-owners, but is mainly owned by international investors.” He has also dismissed security concerns.