Serious irregularities at Debrecen’s CATL battery plant: workers complaining of poisoning – photos, updated

“I felt dizzy, as if I were drunk, my hands, mouth, and tongue went numb, and my eyes were burning,” recounted one female worker at the site, Edina, who was injured alongside a colleague in mid-February at the factory. The government office has acknowledged that CATL in Debrecen was storing chemicals improperly on the premises. Yet following the affair – and the pictures – coming to light, measures were taken to foil-wrap every employee’s phone.

Cover-up attempt after exposure

Zsolt Tárkányi, the Tisza parliamentary candidate who broke the story locally, publicised worker photographs a week ago proving that CATL’s Debrecen battery plant had stored, among other things, 20 tonnes of the foetus-damaging chemical MNP in breach of regulations. In his view, the storage hall for these hazardous materials complied with no European standards whatsoever; indeed, flammable substances were sometimes left in the open air.

Edina’s accident occurred on 13 February; according to Tárkányi, the firm then swiftly halted production in that area – officially still under construction and not yet handed over – and hurriedly removed the hazardous materials. The remnants were stuffed into tents and surrounded with so-called “pink foam waste” to conceal what lay within.

The government office confirmed the irregular storage and launched proceedings; Tárkányi insists the investigation must be expedited, with the battery plant facing exemplary punishment to safeguard its workers. “We want to see a great many zeroes at the end of the penalty sum, so that this Chinese battery-maker never again endangers its employees or Debrecen,” wrote the candidate in his post.

CATL in Debrecen seeks to foil workers’ phones

Tárkányi also reported that over the weekend – after the incriminating worker photos emerged – the battery plant decided to foil-wrap everyone’s phones. According to the candidate, worker resistance prevented this from happening on Monday.

He had previously noted that a Chinese guest worker plunged from a great height during construction at the CATL plant, prompting the arrival of an air ambulance.

Tisza offers new deal to battery plants

In Tárkányi’s opinion, the authorities stir into action only when the press or opposition parties publicise irregularities. Should Tisza triumph on 12 April, he argues, these battery plants must forge fresh pacts with the government, including round-the-clock compliance with every regulation. Certain plants currently “flout Hungarian rules” because the government permits it.​

“It is impossible to import Far Eastern guest workers by the thousand as cheap labour. From their handsome profits, European wages must be paid to Hungarian workers, who will repay it with excellent work,” added the Tisza candidate on the contours of future cooperation.

CATL and government office respond

On the foiling issue, Debrecen’s CATL stated it globally restricts mobile phone use in its factories owing to the presence of cutting-edge intellectual and technical solutions. This has operated in their leased module assembly unit since last year, and all were notified in good time of the latest measure. They said nothing about whether workers thwarted the foiling on Monday.

The Hajdú-Bihar county government office said it had initiated an inspection of the unauthorised building prior to the candidate’s post, banned its use, and launched an environmental probe.

Chemist István Fábián, speaking to RTL Híradó, warned that irregular storage poses grave risks: wind can carry volatile substances far afield, while water-soluble poisons may ruin local water tables and cause further soil contamination.

Update: no environmental probe launched

According to a newly published statement from the Hajdú-Bihar county government office, they did not launch an environmental probe. They practically accused RTL and Telex of lying on the issue. The government office added that they regularly conduct unannounced inspections. Both the accident and the improper storage are in the investigation phase.

If you missed our previous articles in the issue:

• Telex: Samsung poisoned its Göd plant workers for years with the Orbán cabinet’s help
• Eyewitnesses claim high-level Hungarian government ties shielded irregular South Korean battery plant bosses