Samsung is further expanding in Hungary after recent scandalous incidents

South Korean battery manufacturer Samsung SDI is preparing to expand its operations in Göd by acquiring roughly 30 hectares of land between its existing factory and nearby residential areas.

Samsung to aquire more land next to its Göd facility

The proposed purchase, valued at around HUF 4.2 billion (approximately EUR 11 million), would pave the way for a solar power park, parking facilities and limited tree planting.

According to Átlátszó’s report, the development forms part of the company’s broader strategy to increase its industrial footprint in the town, where its battery plant has already been operating since 2018. The investment is also aligned with the company’s efforts to integrate renewable energy solutions into its industrial sites.

In case you missed it: investigative journalists claim Samsung poisoned its Göd plant workers for years with the help of Orbán’s cabinet.

The land acquisition process is quite controversial

The land in question was formally put out to tender by the local municipality last November. However, earlier council decisions had already indicated that the plots would ultimately be sold to Samsung SDI, raising questions about the transparency of the process.

According to available documents, the preliminary agreement includes 59 properties, most of which are not yet owned by the municipality. Authorities must secure ownership by 10 May and complete rezoning and land restructuring by mid-July before a final sales contract can be signed.

Local landowners have been offered HUF 1,046 (appr. EUR 2.72 as of 2 April) per square metre, though several have demanded higher compensation. If no agreement is reached, expropriation remains a possibility, with disputes potentially continuing in court. This process has further fuelled tensions between residents and local authorities.

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Promises of green investment raise doubts

Samsung’s planned development includes a solar park and what has been described as a “protective forest”. However, details remain vague. The preliminary contract does not specify the exact location or size of these elements, noting only that detailed plans will be submitted later.

Government regulations require at least a 50-metre-wide green strip along the site’s western boundary to help mitigate environmental impacts, particularly noise and air pollution. Still, critics argue this falls short of earlier promises of a substantial buffer zone and question how effective such measures will be in practice.

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Ongoing concerns over noise and environmental impact

Residents have long complained about noise from the battery plant, submitting hundreds of reports each year. Despite repeated assurances, no meaningful measures have been implemented, and the previously promised forest buffer has yet to materialise.

The new expansion plans have therefore intensified local concerns, particularly as the project may be located within a designated hazard zone. Hungarian law requires a special industrial safety procedure and a public consultation in such cases, though these requirements are not mentioned in the preliminary agreement, raising additional legal and transparency concerns.

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Financial gains and political context

The deal could generate significant profit for the municipality, with estimates suggesting a gain of up to HUF 2–3 billion (EUR 5.2–7.8 million) after costs. Meanwhile, the legal handling of the transactions has been entrusted to a law firm with longstanding ties to previous government figures.

As the project moves forward, questions remain over environmental safeguards, transparency and the balance between economic development and residents’ quality of life. Local stakeholders are expected to push for clearer communication and stricter oversight in the coming months.