Tata Steel's Dutch arm faces €1.4 bn lawsuit over alleged pollution claims

Tata Steel’s Dutch subsidiaries, Tata Steel Nederland BV and Tata Steel IJmuiden BV, are being sued for approximately €1.4 billion by environmental group Stichting Frisse Wind.nu (SFW) under the Dutch Act on Collective Settlement of Mass Claims (WAMCA). The lawsuit, filed on December 19, alleges that emissions from Tata Steel’s Velsen-Noord plant have negatively impacted the health and living conditions of nearby residents, leading to increased health issues and decreased property values.

Tata Steel refutes these claims, stating they are “unsubstantiated and speculative” and that SFW has provided no supporting evidence. The company intends to “vehemently defend” itself, citing strong arguments against the admissibility and merits of the case. The proceedings will occur in two phases – admissibility and merits – each expected to take two to three years.

The lawsuit is being funded by third-party litigation funders, Redbreast Associates NV and Omni Bridgeway SA, who are entitled to either a multiple of their investment or a share of any recovered amount, capped at 25 percent. Tata Steel emphasizes its commitment to health and environmental sustainability, highlighting substantial investments made through its Roadmap+ program and its high CO2 efficiency compared to global averages, and believes the claim lacks merit.

(Source：Business Standard)