Samsung SDI's battery plant in Göd, Hungary, has been accused of emitting black dust for several years, allegedly causing severe contamination, including discoloration of the factory roof. Concerns have also been raised that the dust may contain carcinogenic substances.
The Hungary plant serves as a key manufacturing base targeting the European electric vehicle market. It is one of Samsung SDI’s most significant overseas operations, accounting for more than 30% of the company's total annual revenue of KRW 16.59 trillion (approximately USD 12.5 billion) as of last year.
According to a report by Hungarian media outlet Telex on February 28, multiple ventilation ducts at Samsung SDI's Göd plant have been discharging black dust for years, leading to the discoloration of the factory roof. Satellite imagery analysis revealed that contamination began in the summer of 2020 and gradually spread. By May 2021, a large area measuring approximately 10m x 10m had turned black.
The report states that an attempt was made to clean or cover the contamination around December 2021, but discoloration reappeared in February 2022. The issue persisted throughout 2023, and the latest satellite images from March 2024 show signs of another cleaning effort. However, some ventilation ducts remain visible.
An insider familiar with the factory operations stated, "Despite serious efforts to address this contamination issue, including multiple cleaning attempts and cover installations, the problem has repeatedly resurfaced."
According to Samsung SDI's 2022 safety report, the affected ventilation ducts are located in Section 72 of Building 3M, where nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) and nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) powders are used for cathode production in battery manufacturing. The report highlights that these powders are toxic when inhaled, with some classified as carcinogenic.
The factory is designed to have air filtration systems in place to prevent these substances from being released outside. However, internal sources claim that significant amounts of NCA and NCM powders have escaped through the ventilation system.
This is not the first time Samsung SDI has faced environmental and occupational safety concerns. In March 2022, Hungarian authorities fined the Göd plant HUF 10 million (approximately USD 27,000) after 23 employees were exposed to high concentrations of hazardous substances, including metals and volatile organic compounds.
Additionally, Hungarian investigative media outlet Átlátszó reported in early 2024 that the National Occupational Safety and Health Authority documented seven separate incidents in 2021 and 2022, involving 133 workers exposed to hazardous chemicals. In 2023, another 44 employees were exposed, bringing the total to 177 workers affected by unauthorized chemical exposure.
Measurements inside the factory showed nickel and cobalt concentrations exceeding the permitted limits by 20-30 times, with some areas recording nickel levels 250 times higher than the regulatory threshold.
Greenpeace chemical expert Gergely Simon commented, "If NCA and NCM dust has been released outside the factory, this poses a serious health risk to the local population. Even trace amounts of carcinogenic metals can be dangerous."
* Telex* reported that it requested official statements from Samsung SDI and government agencies regarding the issue.
In response, the Pest County Government Office stated, "We have not received any formal complaints regarding the black discoloration of the Samsung factory roof. We continuously inspect hazardous material handling facilities within our jurisdiction and take action when violations are found."
A Samsung SDI spokesperson refuted the allegations, saying, "The black dust described in the reports is not toxic or carcinogenic. It is graphite, a harmless mineral that makes the exhaust ducts appear black. We strictly adhere to Hungary’s environmental standards."
Meanwhile, Samsung SDI has been facing a severe management crisis since the latter half of 2023 due to declining demand in the electric vehicle market. As a result, production at the Göd plant has gradually decreased, leading to the closure of production lines and the dismissal of over 1,000 contract workers.
