Power cuts and EVs drive battery crisis

Power cuts have made batteries essential for a growing number of Africans. The solar sector is booming and with it energy storage. But many lithium batteries are now starting to expire. The spread of EVs will lead to an even greater volume of batteries, posing a significant disposal challenge within a few years. Much of Africa is unprepared to recycle lithium batteries at scale, raising fears of an environmental crisis due to hazardous waste. Little thought has been given to what should happen to lithium batteries at the end of their life, unlike lead-acid batteries which are 98% recyclable.

• With virtually no local disposal facilities and rudimentary regulations in place, end-of-life lithium batteries must be disassembled. 

• The 'black mass' is shipped to Europe for processing due to local capability shortages, leading to costly recycling and stockpiling.

• The growing number of used lithium batteries increases the risk of fire hazards and toxic chemicals seeping into groundwater.

• The Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment (DFFE) has policies like the waste classification regulations of 2013 and recently published extended producer responsibility regulations (EPRs) to address end-of-life product management.

• EPR regulations require companies to pay a fee for end-of-life waste management, but success depends on company compliance. 

• Currently, only a small percentage of companies comply, creating an economic disadvantage for compliant companies due to non-compliant competitors selling cheaper products..