Hungarian mayor demands Chinese battery factory close and relocate

The mayor of Debrecen, Hungary, has publicly called on Chinese company Semcorp to close its factory and move its operations out of the city, citing the company's activities as unwelcome. Mayor László Papp stated on Facebook, "Semcorp's activity is not desired in Debrecen. We ask the company to cease its operations in our city and move its production elsewhere."

Since 2021, Hungary has pursued a strategy to become a European hub for the battery industry, attracting substantial investments, primarily from China and South Korea. Debrecen emerged as a key center for this strategy, hosting investments from companies like CATL and Semcorp. The Semcorp facility, Semcorp's first investment outside China, received state financial support and was expected to create over 400 jobs.

However, initial enthusiasm has waned due to environmental incidents. In recent months, both Semcorp and CATL factories in Debrețin have faced scrutiny over environmental issues. Semcorp's operations were suspended after detecting metal and metalloid concentrations in groundwater exceeding permissible limits, requiring the company to rectify the situation. CATL is under investigation for improper wastewater discharge, though authorities have confirmed that the city's drinking water supply remains unaffected.

Opposition to the battery industry's expansion in Debrețin has been growing since 2022-2023, with thousands of residents protesting against the Chinese factories due to pollution risks, high water consumption, and a lack of transparency. While the previous government under Viktor Orbán continued to back these projects, the new administration, led by Péter Magyar, has altered the approach. Environment Minister László Gajdos has prioritized environmental protection, warning that factories repeatedly violating legislation risk closure. Developments in Debrețin are being closely watched in nearby Oradea and Bihor County, both for geographical proximity and because the Hungarian city's industrial development has often been cited as a model for attracting major foreign investments in the region.

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Semcorp's activity is not desired in Debrețin. We ask the company to cease its operations in our city and move its production elsewhere.