SaS Wants Environment Ministry to Take Hungary into Account for EIA on Surany

Bratislava, 19 February (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has called on the Environment Ministry to take into account experiences from Hungary when conducting the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the planned electric car battery plant in Surany (Nitra region). MP Karol Galek (SaS) at a news conference on Thursday pointed to a letter from the Slovak ambassador in Budapest, which, he said, "warned of risks associated with Asian investments in battery production". Galek referred to a widely reported case involving South-Korean company Samsung in Hungary, where limits for particulate matter containing nickel, manganese and cobalt, used in the production of battery cathodes, were significantly exceeded. These substances are toxic and may pose health risks, stated the MP. "We want to know how the Slovak government has responded to this case and whether any preventive measures have been taken in connection with the Surany investment," he said. Galek also reported on a letter from the Slovak ambassador in Budapest, which was sent to MPs, the Finance Ministry, the government and the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) about 18 months ago. In the letter, the diplomat drew attention to experiences with South Korean and Chinese investors in Hungary, which bring in their own subcontractors and workers from abroad. SaS has therefore called on the Environment Ministry to take foreign experience into account during the EIA process. At the same time, the party has asked the government and the Economy Ministry how it will be ensured that Slovak companies will also participate in constructing the Surany investment. Galek also drew attention to the departure of several investors from Slovakia, mentioning companies such as Bosch, Bukoza, Ecco Slovakia, SES Tlmace, Embraco and Povazsky Cukor. According to him, this is a trend that requires the government's attention. ko/df