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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] EcoPro BM experienced a leakage incident involving nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) cathode semi-finished materials at its plant in Debrecen, Hungary, raising safety concerns ahead of commercial operations.
According to industry sources on May 7, approximately 22.6 kilograms of NCA material leaked from the NCA1 production building at around 11:40 p.m. on May 4.
An EcoPro BM official said there were no casualties and no release of hazardous materials outside the facility. “Only a portion of the production area was affected, and we are taking all necessary measures to ensure safe operations,” the company told AlphaBiz.
The company identified the cause of the incident as damage to a pipe connection and immediately began repair work.
Despite the accident occurring roughly six months after the plant’s completion, EcoPro BM said preparations for operations are proceeding as planned and that it intends to move forward with commercial production on schedule.
However, political sensitivities in Hungary may pose a variable. The ruling Tisza Party, which came to power following last month’s general election, has taken a critical stance on battery plant safety issues, and the company is closely monitoring the local situation.
The Debrecen facility is the first cathode material plant built in Europe by a South Korean battery materials company, spanning approximately 440,000 square meters.
EcoPro BM plans to begin mass production of high-nickel cathode materials, including NCA and NCM, this year. It also aims to diversify its portfolio into mid-nickel and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) products, targeting total production capacity of 108,000 tons.
The company has been actively engaging with the local ecosystem, including participating in “Battery Day” hosted by the Hungarian Battery Association (HUBA), as part of efforts to strengthen its position in the European supply chain.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
