Premier files complaint over groundwater costs at Volvo factory site

Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and Economy Minister Denisa Saková (Voic-SD) have filed a criminal complaint over alleged concealment of high groundwater levels at the Valaliky site for the new Volvo car factory. The hidden issue has caused an additional €50 million in costs. Fico accused the former management of Valaliky Industrial Park (VIP) of concealing expert reports and blamed the opposition, which was in government at the time, for the negligence. Saková added that the project suffered from unrealistic deadlines and poor preparation but assured that the industrial park's construction is not at risk. Volvo was forced to raise its factory hall by 0.5 meters due to the groundwater, incurring €7.7 million in additional costs, which the state has agreed to pay under revised milestones. Former Economy Ministry official Karol Galek (SaS) denied the allegations, stating the groundwater reports were publicly available and that the project budget included a €45 million reserve. Official construction of the industrial park began in February 2023, overseen by VIP, a company established by the Economy Ministry. Volvo plans to use the site to produce electric vehicles.

Source: TASR