Battery Recycling Plant Faces Local Opposition in Pilisjászfalu, Hungary

Hungarian Village Braces for Battery Plant, Sparking Environmental Concerns

Mikepércs, Hungary – A planned battery plant near this tranquil Hungarian village is igniting a fierce debate over the country’s ambitions to become a European hub for electric vehicle battery production. The project, spearheaded by Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), is facing mounting opposition from local residents and environmental groups who fear pollution and ecological damage.

Eva Kozma, a 48-year-old mother of three with an environmental engineering background, remembers a time before the construction began. “Before the factories, we had fields of corn, wheat, and sunflowers,” she told Rest of World. “There were apple and cherry farms, and the cows were still grazing.” Now, the landscape is dominated by a 221-hectare industrial park where CATL is building an $8-billion facility.

The controversy surrounding the CATL plant is part of a larger trend in Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is actively courting foreign investment in the electric vehicle battery sector. Chinese investors have poured billions into the industry, but this influx of capital is not without its critics. Locals have previously spent years opposing similar projects from South Korean battery plants, achieving some success in halting construction and securing fines for pollution.

The current dispute centers on a planned facility to process waste from lithium-ion battery production. According to a February 4, 2026, announcement from the Pest County Government Office’s Environmental Protection, Nature Conservation and Waste Management Department, NT Recycling Kft. Intends to establish a facility for the on-site collection, storage, and recycling of hazardous waste generated from lithium-ion battery manufacturing. The plant is projected to handle 1,876 tons of hazardous waste annually.

The proposed facility has drawn strong condemnation from local representatives. Tamás Menczer, the area’s member of parliament, stated in a recent video that he would oppose the construction of a hazardous waste processing plant in the region as long as he remains in office. He claimed to have rejected proposals from the company in the past, and asserted that both the government and the investment agency had followed his lead. However, the government office issued the announcement regarding the environmental impact assessment despite his stated opposition.

The local government in Pilisjászfalu initially attempted to restrict the type of industrial development allowed on the site. In late 2024, the municipal council considered classifying the land as “GIPe” – a designation for industrial areas that do not have a significant negative impact on the environment. According to a Facebook post from the Pilisjászfalu municipal government, this classification would prevent the approval of a facility for the on-site collection, storage, and recycling of hazardous waste from lithium-ion battery production. However, the process has evolved, and an environmental impact assessment is now underway.

The local government has since commissioned an independent engineering firm to review the permit documentation and represent their interests before the authorizing authorities. Szántó Vilmos, the mayor of Pilisjászfalu, noted that no procedural steps were taken between December and February 3, 2026, leading the applicant to suspend the process – a suspension that required the municipality’s consent, which was granted. However, Szántó claims the project did not remain suspended.

Local residents are planning a torchlit demonstration on February 13th, starting at 6:00 PM, along a route encompassing Pilis Logisztikai Park, the Mayor’s Office, Topiq Center, and Somlyó Lakóvölgy. The protest underscores the growing frustration and determination of the community to protect their environment.

CATL, the world’s largest producer of electric vehicle batteries, currently dominates the global EV battery market with a share exceeding 40%. The company employs over 80,000 people worldwide and supplies major automakers including Tesla, Ford, and Volkswagen. CATL operates five overseas factories in the EU and Southeast Asia and is reportedly in discussions with American carmakers to establish plants in the U.S. The company did not respond to requests for comment regarding the concerns raised in Hungary.

The situation in Mikepércs highlights the complex challenges facing Hungary as it seeks to balance economic development with environmental protection and the concerns of its citizens. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for future foreign investment in the country and the broader European battery industry.