Debrecen4U August 31, 2026

Government Office Responds to Apparent Contradiction Around CATL Debrecen

News about CATL’s Debrecen battery plant continues to emerge. As previously reported, the Hajdú-Bihar County Government Office suspended operations at the plant, which has not yet begun production, after the company reported that elevated nickel exposure had been identified in nine employees. The company said it was investigating the cause. Less than a day later, CATL announced that it had received an occupancy permit for its first cell manufacturing building.

To clarify this seemingly contradictory situation, Médiacentrum Debrecen sent questions to the Hajdú-Bihar County Government Office, which said in response that “CATL may not begin manufacturing activities until it has remedied all occupational safety deficiencies related to nickel exposure. The occupational health deficiencies identified and already addressed only authorise the company to carry out machine-setting work.”

The Government Office added that the application for an occupancy permit for the first phase of the CATL cell manufacturing building covered the designated unit containing the L1 and L2 production lines, as well as 10 lifts, and was approved by the building authority on 25 August. By contrast, the application for an occupancy permit for the second phase of the existing cell manufacturing building – covering the L3 and L4 production lines and three lifts – was rejected on 19 August 2026.

The response also stressed that the Government Office’s authorities act strictly in accordance with all applicable legal requirements in every case. They conduct their procedures responsibly and as thoroughly as possible, and only issue permits when all requirements laid down by law have been met.

Source and photo credit: dehir.hu