Hungary will create a new top authority to monitor and sanction polluting industries, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) battery sector. This move is part of a drive to tighten regulation of the sector, which has grown significantly under former leader Viktor Orban.
Background
From 2021, Orban’s government attracted around €26 billion in foreign investment, mainly from South Korean and Chinese manufacturers, making Hungary a key hub in Europe for EV battery production. However, environmental, health, and safety concerns around the plants have surfaced as a key issue.
Environment Minister Laszlo Gajdos has threatened to close factories in the EV battery industry that fail to abide by environmental regulations. A new authority will be established to monitor and sanction these potential polluters, with the goal of launching it in September and applying extremely stringent standards.
Recent Developments
A government office recently suspended the production license of Chinese battery parts maker Semcorp due to large-scale aluminum pollution found in water samples around the plant. The factory in Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city, will remain closed for a long time.
Hungarian police have also launched several criminal procedures against Samsung SDI, including probes into environmental damage and occupational endangerment. The company’s Hungarian factory had its environmental license suspended temporarily and was fined several times for exceeding emissions standards.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
