Within the framework of the New Széchenyi Plan and assisted by EU funds, a new water purification chemicals plant has been built in Kazincbarcika: Donauchem Ltd., the Hungarian subsidiary of Donau-Chemie AG inaugurated its ferric chloride/polyaluminium chloride plant established at the industrial site of Wanhua-BorsodChem on Wednesday.

The plant is to use the hydrochloric acid produced during the manufacturing of isocyanate by Wanhua-BorsodChem to manufacture water treatment chemicals, 75 thousand tons of ferric chloride and 30 thousand tons of polyaluminium chloride per year, in an environment friendly way. East Hungary is thereby to become an important source of water purification chemicals.

At the inauguration ceremony of the plant, Minister of National Development Zsuzsa Németh emphasised there had been significant achievements in economic growth and employment in Hungary recently. "We must appreciate the activities of businesses that open up new workplaces in Hungary, especially if they carry out their developments in regions of the country that struggle with adverse conditions and low employment", she said.

The investment of Donauchem Ltd., worth over HUF 2 billion, creates 20-25 work places in Kazincbarcika. Donau-Chemie AG has over 900 employees in 11 countries; its Hungarian subsidiary has been operating since 1994. Chief Executive Officer of Donau-Chemie AG Franz Geiger underlined that, in Kazincbarcika, the company invested in the development of Hungarian made products and was to produce Hungarian products through Hungarian workforce.

Chairman of the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Assembly Roland Mengyi (Fidesz) said the project fit in well with the development plans of the county and continued strengthening the most important local industrial capacity of a regional value. He opined there was a chance for a Borsod industrial axis to be established in the county, which would be distinguished both geographically and industrially. Ózd, Kazincbarcika, Miskolc and Tiszaújváros with their chemical, machine, coal and steel industries could give development opportunity for the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén region rich in industrial traditions, which could serve as an example for Hungary as a whole.

(Ministry of National Development)