Accidents, illnesses in battery plants in Hungary: new law comes?

The opposition LMP is submitting a proposal to parliament on tightening regulations on the permissions, controls and sanctions regarding battery plants.

Deputy group head Máté Kanász-Nagy told a press conference on Friday that the media lately abounded with reports of problems in battery plants including irregularities, environmental pollution and accidents. Authorities have found 40 instances of grave irregularities in the Samsung factory in God, in central Hungary, alone, he said.

LMP is submitting a draft proposal to parliament early next week, calling for stricter regulations on issuing permits for battery plants, and for strengthening authorities’ independence and resources to boost more effective controls, he said.

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Multiple accidents, sicknesses

Napi.hu wrote that in June, multiple workers became sick in the SK On Hungary Ltd’s battery manufacturing plant in Iváncsa. The reason was that the factory worked with toxic and carcinogenic materials. However, they forgot to report that to the state authorities. In their Komárom plant, 12 workers were taken to the hospital. In a reply to a Hungarian MP, they said they use NCM powder (nickel-cobalt-manganium-lythium-oxide) and electrolyte, both toxic and carcinogenic. Photo of the Iváncsa plant:

Meanwhile, Forbes wrote that the Nográd County Government Office suspended the activity of a battery processing plant in Bátonyterenye. The factory in South Korean ownership continuously broke operation and waste management rules.