Debrecen Mayor Orders Shutdown of Semcorp Battery Plant

The Chinese‑owned Semcorp Hungary Kft., which produces separator film for lithium‑ion batteries, has been found to have caused underground water contamination in Debrecen, exceeding legal limits for several metals.

Hungarian environmental authorities suspended the plant’s operations on 24 June, and Mayor László Papp announced that the company's activity is “not desirable” in the city. He called for the factory to cease operations, relocate, and undertake full environmental remediation, while ordering additional sampling beyond the plant site.

Environment Minister Gáspár László criticised the mayor’s approach, urging stricter enforcement and warning that repeated violations could lead to closures and heavy fines. Semcorp said it is cooperating with authorities, has launched an independent fact‑finding investigation, and will continue the temporary suspension until the issues are resolved.

The water utility confirmed that the city’s drinking‑water supply remains safe, but monitoring wells continue to track water quality. The project, originally supported by a state subsidy of €13 million to create about 440 jobs, now faces an uncertain future.