The African battery recycling market is emerging, with new plants announced in West and South Africa. In August and September alone, three pilot plants were announced or launched, while Nigeria introduced new legislation on lifecycle management of batteries, including provisions for improved battery recycling.
Research body Rho Motion said in a briefing note that European players are aiming to capitalise on Africa’s growing waste market. Romco Group, a UK-based recycling organisation focused on emerging markets, and Elemental Group, a Polish recycler, signed an agreement to collaborate in Africa.
They plan to recycle e-waste, batteries, aluminium and copper, initially concentrating on West Africa. As Romco is already present in Nigeria, it is likely that their recycling efforts will begin there, Rho said. Romco said it has a strong established presence in West Africa which will serve as an initial base for the partnership. The partnership will combine its and Elemental’s expertise and resources in the collection, pre-processing, smelting, and trading of recycled base and precious metals.
Similarly, the UK recycler Hinckley E-Waste Recycling has announced a $5 million investment into a lithium-ion and lead-acid battery recycling facility in Ogun State, Nigeria. The state has a concentration of recyclers. The Autumn issue of BEST will report on recent regulatory developments in the country.
South Africa’s Cwenga Lib opened its first pilot battery recycling facility in Johannesburg in September. This plant focuses on lithium-ion battery recycling, having capacity to recycle from end-of-life batteries through to battery grade materials. A hydrometallurgy process produces lithium, manganese, nickel and cobalt salts.
Photo: From left – Paweł Jarski, founder and CEO of Elemental and Raymond Onovwigun, founder and CEO, Romco. Romco.
