Hungary orders Chinese battery maker Semcorp to shut Debrecen plant

Hungary’s new centre‑right government, led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, has threatened to close battery‑factory operations that breach environmental rules. The policy marks a shift from former premier Viktor Orbán’s pro‑investment stance that attracted about €26 billion in South Korean and Chinese battery projects, positioning the country as a European hub for electric‑vehicle batteries.

In the city of Debrecen, mayor László Papp publicly demanded that Chinese component producer Semcorp cease operations and relocate after authorities detected extensive aluminium contamination in local groundwater. The regional administration suspended Semcorp’s production licence at the end of June and the environment minister, László Gajdos, warned that repeat violators would face the highest fines in Europe.

The plant, originally promoted as a job‑creating venture with over 400 positions, has been scrutinised alongside a nearby CATL facility for metal‑pollution breaches. While drinking‑water supplies were reportedly unaffected, the crackdown reflects the new government’s priority on environmental protection and public health.