Tests carried out on private wells near the Chinese-owned Semcorp battery separator film plant in Debrecen have found manganese concentrations far above Hungary’s drinking water limit, with two wells exceeding the legal threshold by more than ten times. Environmental organisations say the findings warrant further investigation, although they stress that the source of the contamination has not yet been identified.
The results were announced by Greenpeace Hungary and the Mothers for the Environment of Mikepércs Association, which commissioned laboratory tests following growing public concern after an industrial accident at the Semcorp factory earlier this year.
Tests followed February industrial accident
According to 444.hu, the investigation was launched after a February incident at the Semcorp plant raised fears that pollutants could have reached local groundwater. While the latest laboratory analyses did not detect the substances previously linked to the factory accident, all three tested private wells contained manganese concentrations significantly above the drinking water limit.
According to the organisations, the measured concentrations were 790, 520 and 240 micrograms per litre, compared with Hungary’s drinking water limit of 50 micrograms per litre. The sampled wells are used by local residents for everyday purposes, including drinking, cooking, watering livestock and irrigating gardens.
Cause of high manganese levels remains unknown
Despite the elevated readings, Greenpeace and the local environmental group emphasised that the current data do not prove the Semcorp plant is responsible.
They noted that the Debrecen area’s geological conditions mean the elevated manganese could also have a natural geological origin. However, they said the results justify additional hydrogeological and environmental investigations to determine the source of the contamination.
The organisations plan to submit the laboratory findings to the relevant authorities and formally request an official investigation. They are also calling for broader testing of substances associated with battery manufacturing technologies.
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Semcorp has faced growing scrutiny
The Chinese battery materials manufacturer has come under increasing pressure in recent months. Following the February industrial incident, environmental groups reported finding chemicals associated with the factory’s production processes in nearby wastewater samples, prompting an official investigation.
In late June, environmental authorities suspended operations at the Debrecen facility after groundwater samples reportedly revealed pollution exceeding regulatory limits. Official data later showed aluminium concentrations in groundwater more than 13,000 times above the applicable limit.
Soon afterwards, Debrecen Mayor László Papp publicly described the pollution as “simply unacceptable” and urged authorities to consider revoking the company’s environmental permit if necessary. On 1 July, he went further, calling on Semcorp to leave the city altogether.
The factory was subsequently ordered to halt all operations with immediate effect after fire safety inspectors identified serious violations that endangered people and property. Authorities also imposed a HUF 3 million fire safety fine, while police launched an environmental damage investigation.
Semcorp said at the time that it accepted the authorities’ decisions and had begun an internal investigation under senior management supervision.
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