Norwegian ammo manufacturer blames TikTok data centre for energy shortage

A Norwegian ammunition manufacturer said that a nearby TikTok data centre is consuming almost all of the electricity in the region, forcing the manufacturer to reduce production.

Nammo, which is co-owned by the Government of Norway and a state-controlled defence company of Finland, said that there is no surplus energy available for its Raufoss factory in central Norway due to the social media platform. As a result, the firm is unable to keep up with surging global demand for ammunition.

“We are concerned because we see our future growth is challenged by the storage of cat videos,” Morten Brandtzæg, CEO of the arms manufacturer told Financial Times.

He explained that the demand for artillery rounds was 15 times more than usual due to the war in Ukraine.

At the moment Ukraine uses roughly 6,000 rounds of ammunition a day, however, wants to increase use to 65,000 rounds a day.

While it is unclear whether the firm directly supplies Ukraine, it is likely supplying the country indirectly. Its main customers, EU and NATO members, have been making generous donations to Ukraine.

The energy company said that it did not have any capacity left for the manufacturer, due to its commitment to the social media platform.

The CEO even speculated whether it was a coincidence that the Chinese-owned company was impeding the expansion of the firm’s manufacturing capabilities.