GIB EnergyX: Surany Battery Plant Obtains Construction Permit

Surany/Nitra, 19 August (TASR) - A battery plant in the planned Surany industrial park in the district of Nove Zamky (Nitra region) on Monday (18 August) received a construction permit from the Nitra Regional Office for Spatial Planning and Construction, thereby allowing GIB EnergyX Slovakia to build production facilities intended for prototype production of up to 1 gigawatt hour, the company itself reported on Tuesday. "The permit covers the construction of the main production halls, warehouses and gatehouses, as well as several engineering networks, including external electrical distribution, transformer stations and temporary structures necessary to equip the construction site and connect it to the infrastructure," announced the company. The company gave assurances that all work will be carried out in line with the conditions set by the respective authorities. "This decision states that the proposed activity, while complying with all technical, safety and organisational measures, doesn't pose a significant risk to the environment or the health of local people," said the company. GIB EnergyX pointed out that the construction permit allows it to build facilities for prototype production of up to 1 GWh. The plant should serve to verify the technologies and production process. "Serial production in the full planned capacity of 20 GWh, as well as the construction of additional production facilities, will only be possible after the approval of the documentation within the so-called big EIA, which is currently being assessed under a separate permit procedure," stressed the company. It stated that this procedure is in line with valid legislation and represents a standard approach "to the construction of a large-scale investment with regard to environmental and technological requirements". GIB EnergyX Slovakia began the preparatory work on the land for the future battery plant in Surany last Friday (15 August). The company took over the 93.88-hectare land in the location of the future Surany Industrial Park from MH Invest in early August. Some residents of Surany, Banov and other towns and villages concerned are protesting against the construction of the battery plant as part of the 'We Protect What Is Ours' initiative. Opposition representatives have pointed to shortcomings in the documentation and were concerned that the investor wanted to circumvent a proper EIA procedure. The companies investing in the project have rejected this. They also oppose the claim that the battery plant will endanger the environment or the health of local people. ko/df