Hungarian court annuls environmental permit for Sóskút Donghwa electrolytic plant

Following complaints from the Sóskút local government and the Sóskút Civil Kör Association, the second-level environmental authority has invalidated the unified environmental usage permit granted to the Donghwa electrolytic plant in December 2025. The board determined that the first-level authority had mistakenly evaluated the conditions for electrolyte production, a activity that independently triggers an environmental impact assessment, and therefore could not be merged with the previously approved hazardous waste recycling permit.

The submitted paperwork bundled the two activities, preventing separate assessment of their effects. The board highlighted shortcomings in water supply, sewage treatment, potential soil-water pollution, the appropriateness of the technology used, and noise and vibration safeguards. While the ruling does not constitute a final shutdown, any future licensing must address these gaps through a fresh application and supporting documents. The Donghwa Electrolyte Hungary Ltd., a South-Korean owned subsidiary, processes materials for lithium-ion battery production in the Sóskút industrial park, and its hazardous-material handling was suspended earlier this year by the Pest County Government Office.