CATL Debrecen battery plant chemical leak contained within minutes

On June 25, a leak of about one litre of diethyl carbonate occurred during a dismantling operation at the CATL battery plant in Debrecen, Hungary. Company officials said the emergency team and plant fire brigade were alerted immediately, the spill was sealed with fire‑sand and absorbent material, and the area was ventilated, stopping the incident within five minutes. The company reported no injuries and launched an internal investigation, cooperating with authorities.

Local environmental activists, however, claimed that several workers felt ill from the vapours and were evacuated from the zone. The incident has prompted scrutiny of safety procedures at the plant.

The plant has not disclosed further details, and the investigation aims to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.