Semcorp Hungary factory suspension in Debrecen under dispute

The operations of the Semcorp Hungary Kft. separator film factory in Debrecen have been suspended by the Hajdú-Bihar County Government Office since June 24. The suspension was based on soil samples showing metal concentrations, such as aluminum, exceeding limits by up to 13,000 times. Authorities initially claimed these levels could not be attributed to natural origins.

However, Semcorp has contested the findings, alleging a technical error in the testing process. The company claims that the laboratory, HL-LAB Kft., measured total metal concentration instead of dissolved metal concentration, thereby including metals naturally present in the soil. Semcorp states that subsequent independent tests have failed to find any metal levels exceeding permitted limits.

Discrepancies have also emerged regarding the reporting of results. While the government office stated it received both results and evaluations, HL-LAB has clarified that they only provided laboratory results and did not perform the evaluations. Semcorp's managing director, James Shih, noted that the prolonged suspension is causing significant difficulties for the company and potential production disruptions for its customers.