Estonian Major General Palm to Chair Board of Jēkabpils Explosives Plant Developer
Wolfram Europa, which plans to build an explosives plant in Jēkabpils, has appointed retired Estonian Major General Veiko-Vello Palm as chairman of its board. The company aims to become Europe's largest explosives producer.
Wolfram Europa, the company planning to build an explosives production facility in Jēkabpils, has appointed retired Major General Veiko-Vello Palm as chairman of its board. He previously served as the first commander of the Estonian Division.
Defence background
Palm has more than thirty years of experience in military and strategic leadership. Before commanding the division, he was deputy commander and chief of staff of the Estonian Defence Forces. The company says this background gave him a deep understanding of NATO operational requirements, regional security dynamics and capability gaps in Europe's defence industry.
In his new role, Palm will advise the company on aligning its strategy with defence policy, expanding production capacity, and cooperating with defence sector firms such as Krattworks and Harmattan AI.
Chief executive Magnus-Valdemar Saar said the appointment strengthens management expertise in military strategy and will help expand capacity and secure explosives supplies seen as critical to European security.
Palm himself said Europe is strengthening its armaments and must also regain the ability to produce the explosives these weapons need. According to him, the company is investing in Latvia to reinforce the existing defence industry and reduce dependence on distant suppliers. Alongside production, it plans to develop warheads for partners and its own products, focusing on affordable, mass-producible solutions and resilient supply during a crisis.
Plans for the plant
In August, the company announced a €200 million investment in its first large-scale factory in Jēkabpils. The site will combine the entire production process, from chemical raw material synthesis to final warhead assembly.
The plant is due to open in stages from 2027 and will create 200 jobs in the region. It will be built to NATO safety standards. At full capacity it will produce up to 300 tonnes of explosive raw material (RDX/HMX) a year, and assemble 200,000 warheads and 100,000 anti-tank mines.
