Circular solutions for a toxic challenge: Africa’s first regional conference for safe battery recycling
On 18–19 March 2025, 170 stakeholders from across Africa convened in Abuja for the conference “Upgrading the Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Sector in the African Region”, co-hosted by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) under the ProBaMet project. As Africa’s first regional conference dedicated to tackling toxic pollution from lead-acid battery recycling, the event focused on developing a shared vision for environmentally sound and socially responsible end-of-life battery management, with Nigeria serving as a central case study.
ARE Members Oghosa Solar and KAMIM Technologies contributed to the event by presenting the minimum standards for end-of-life battery management outlined in the Circularity Guidelines. The two companies highlighted the vital role of the private sector in creating safe employment and protecting the environment, sharing how the Guidelines have shaped their internal policies and operations. The session concluded with the public endorsement of the Guidelines by 10 industry leaders.
Interactive workshops, expert panels, and the signing ceremony of the Circularity Guidelines demonstrated the industry’s growing commitment to safer recycling practices. A key highlight was the call for a Pan-African strategy to harmonise standards and drive systemic reform in the Used Lead-Acid Batteries (ULAB) sector—underscoring the continent’s united effort to build a cleaner, lead-safe future.
