The red mud disaster of Kolontar and Devecser is considered to be one of the greatest ecological catastrophies of Hungary. The western dam of a toxic red sludge reservoir located at Ajka ruptured on October 4, 2010. Red sludge or mud is a byproduct of refining bauxite into alumina, which took place at an alumina plant run by the Hungarian Alumina Production and Trading Company. As a result of the breach, the red mud contained there flooded the surrounding territory. The red mud reached surface water. The valleys of Torna and Marcal were polluted. There was a high risk of the pollution of Hungarys largest river, the Danube. It caused significant damage to the ecological and social structures of the region. 10 people died and the homes of 150 people were destroyed. One year later there had been some clean up, and MAL Hungarian Aluminum has been fined $647 million (472 million euros) for environmental damages. However, levels of toxicity are still dangerous. |
| Name of conflict: | Redmud disaster Kolontar-Devecser, Hungary |
| Country: | Hungary |
| State or province: | Veszprem County |
| Location of conflict: | Region of Kolontar |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Mineral Ores and Building Materials Extraction |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Mineral ore exploration Tailings from mines |
| Specific commodities: | Aluminum/Bauxite |
| Project details | ,000 cubic meters of red mud was spilled |
| Project area: | 1000 |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | 67,7500,000 |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | local habitants |
| Company names or state enterprises: | MAL-Magyar Aluminium Ltd. from Hungary |
| Relevant government actors: | Minister of Internal Affairs, Director of the National Disaster Management Directorate, Under-secretary of the Ministry of National Affairs |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, Hungarian Interchurch Aid, Greenpeace |
| Intensity | LOW (some local organising) |
| Reaction stage | Mobilization for reparations once impacts have been felt |
| Groups mobilizing: | Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Community-based participative research (popular epidemiology studies, etc..) Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Waste overflow, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Mine tailing spills Potential: Food insecurity (crop damage), Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Accidents, Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Occupational disease and accidents, Deaths, Other environmental related diseases Potential: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…) |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Militarization and increased police presence, Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Increase in violence and crime |
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Compensation Corruption Environmental improvements, rehabilitation/restoration of area Court decision (victory for environmental justice) Court decision (failure for environmental justice) Migration/displacement Technical solutions to improve resource supply/quality/distribution Under negotiation |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Technological change and development. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | Based on our results the management of the conflict cannot be considered a success of environmental justice. Although the financial remediation has been complete, local people still struggle with the psychological effects, and to their way of thinking they were not properly involved in the decision making process. There have been a lot of complaints of corruption during the remediation projects. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Contributor: | Gyorgy Malovics |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 535 |