The National Government has embarked on a process of adjustment in the state-owned company Fabricaciones Militares , reducing its operations in an attempt to privatize it . This process began with the closure of the explosives plant in Jáchal, San Juan, and it is expected that other facilities, such as the one in Villa María, Córdoba , will also be affected .
At the same time, an auction of vehicles, containers and equipment was held in collaboration with Banco Ciudad , which generated more than 605 million pesos .
The decision to sell off the assets, considering them unnecessary , is causing further concern among the company's 1,200 employees , who see their future employment at stake .
The ATE union in Villa María expressed concern about the implications of these sales, arguing that " not only economic assets are being lost, but also critical resources for the development of national defense and essential public policies ."
According to union representatives, not only tools and machinery are being liquidated , but the entire operational capacity of the plant is being eliminated.
The impact of the closure of the Jáchal plant is especially felt in Villa María , where gunpowder production has fallen dramatically in recent months. This closure leaves more than 280 workers in a precarious situation, while they await news about their future.
The Military Manufacturing unit in Azul , known as Fanazul , has around 85 employees and has been inactive since May 2024.
In parallel, NATO-associated companies are interested in the company's ammunition and explosives production capabilities . In 2024 , two firms, CGS Defence of the Czech Republic and Hispania Group of Spain , sent delegations to Argentina to explore possible agreements .
These negotiations are part of the growing diplomatic rapprochement between Argentina and the United States , particularly after the visit of State Department officials to the Río Tercero plant in July 2023 .
The focus of these officials was on the metalworking plant , which, although it has changed its production line in recent years to trains and wagons, has a history as an ammunition manufacturer .
This change in direction for Military Manufacturing raises concerns about the commercialization of a strategic sector for the country's sovereignty.
With the focus on privatization, the future of Fabricaciones Militares seems uncertain and its workers face this uncertainty.
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