Hungary Hikes Pollution Fines for Big Industry

Hungary will raise the maximum fine for serious pollution by large manufacturers, including battery producers, to 5bn forints ($16m), Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced on Thursday.

A new environmental agency will strictly monitor battery manufacturing, recycling and decommissioning. Magyar stressed that the government would not prioritize investment over the health and safety of residents.

The government also plans to introduce a “three strikes” rule. Large companies that violate environmental regulations for a third time within five years will face a minimum fine equivalent to 0.5% of their annual net revenue.

Magyar cited Samsung SDI’s battery plant in God, which was fined several times between 2022 and 2023 for exceeding emissions standards. Samsung has said the plant complied with environmental and safety regulations.

In June, authorities suspended the production license of Chinese battery parts maker Semcorp after large-scale aluminum pollution was detected in water samples from monitoring wells around its plant. Semcorp said it was investigating.

(Reuters, sab)