Energy-hungry TikTok data centre harming our Ukraine ammunition production plans, CEO says

One of Europe's largest ammunition manufacturers has said efforts to meet surging demand from the war in Ukraine have been stymied by a new TikTok data centre that is monopolising electricity in the region close to its biggest factory. The chief executive of Nammo, which is co-owned by the Norwegian government, said a planned expansion of its largest factory in central Norway hit a roadblock due to a lack of surplus energy, with the construction of TikTok's new data centre using up electricity in the local area. "We are concerned because we see our future growth is challenged by the storage of cat videos," Morten Brandtzæg told the Financial Times. Demand for artillery rounds is 15 times higher than normal and Europe's munitions industry needs to invest €2bn in new factories to keep up with Ukraine's needs, according to Brandtzæg. By some estimates, Ukraine is firing 6,000 to 7,000 artillery shells a day and is facing ammunition shortages after more than a year of war.