Bangladesh lead acid battery manufacturers are concerned for their future after state-owned IDCOL paved the way for solar home systems (SHS) using lithium-ion batteries, reports United News of Bangladesh.
Lead-acid battery manufacturers believe the move will threaten the industry, which supplies 700,000 units each year.
Even worldwide battery exporters are apprehensive about their business and expansion plans amid tough global competition, said UNB.
Annually around 2.8 million batteries are used by different sectors in the country with a 10% growth rate, states Bangladesh Accumulator & Battery Manufacturers Association.
Of these 600,000 are used by motor vehicles; 400,000 by IPS and UPS users; 150,000 by industrial heavy equipment, 1,000,000 by electric vehicles and electric-rickshaw.
IDCOL deputy CEO Formanul Islam was reported as saying the lithium-ion batteries would only be for SHS with a capacity of below 10 watts.
IDCOL plan will increase the number of SHSs from 2.5 million to 3.5 million in the next five years – of these, 75,000 will have less than 10 watt capacity.
