News from Hungary

Greenpeace: the reservoir of Almásfüzitő leaks

More than one year had passed since the red sludge catastrophe in Kolontár. On the 4th of October 2010 the dike of the red sludge reservoir between Kolontár and Ajka ruptured and more than half a million cubic metres of toxic waste spread across the area. The highly alkaline, corrosive liquid caused serious damages in three villages: Kolontár, Devecser and Somlóvásárhely. Since then new houses have been built but the environment is still not recovered from the contamination. The media and certain NGOs started to deal with the case of the red sludge reservoir of Almásfüzitő and the risks it poses after the tragedy in Ajka. We asked Gergely Simon the chemicals expert of Greenpeace Hungary about the problems and dangers of the reservoir.

Cafebabel: First we should talk about what happened in Kolontár. What has changed over the last year? Is the red sludge completely transferred?

Gergely Simon: The contamination is mostly removed. Few months ago when Greenpeace carried out measurements there, we found some the toxic metals in the soil which can be the consequence of the red sludge contamination, but they were below the threshold limit value. The current problem is that the factory lets out the liquid that used to be on top of the reservoir. Although it is neutralized, its salt content is still high. Furthermore its molybdenum content is also very high and every now and then it contains other toxic materials too. The problem is that instead of obliging them to pay an indemnity, the authorities raise the threshold limit values so that the recorded values can not be regarded as contamination. It is not good either when the contaminating material is let out on occasional permissions, nor is it better when cement is mixed with the red sludge, mainly because it is a bit inexperienced method and threatens to pose more risks. On the whole, we can say that the cleaning of the area has been carried out properly but the spending of the 15 billion Hungarian Forints meant to cover the restoration raises another issue. Even the Members of the Parliament would like to know that in detail.