Why Mauritius sees opportunity in old batteries
Mauritius is importing electric vehicles to bring down the country’s carbon emissions. The problem is what to do with the batteries once they wear out. That’s why ITC is working with the island nation to explore the case for a regional approach to recycling end-of-life batteries from Mauritius and nearby countries.
Vehicles produce about a quarter of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, so switching to electric vehicles is a big step towards meeting its climate goals.
Small island nations like Mauritius face the biggest risks from warming temperatures and rising seas. The country is developing circular economy policies to address the climate crisis.
However, electric vehicles come with a challenge: what to do with the lithium-ion batteries once they wear out?
Recycling requires a large supply of dead batteries. With small supplies, recycling businesses can’t turn a profit.
But Mauritius sees an opportunity in this problem. By importing dead batteries from nearby countries, a recycling plant could reach the economies of scale needed to succeed, subject to national environmental regulations.
‘As Mauritius embraces renewable energy solutions and electric mobility, we must proactively address the increasing volume of lithium-ion battery waste,’ said Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade. ‘We can turn the challenges of battery waste into opportunities for economic growth and environmental preservation.’
He was speaking on 5 March, as the International Trade Centre (ITC) presented the initial findings of a study into how to use trade policy to improve the economics of recycling the batteries. The study was conducted by the ITC Climate Competitiveness project, funded by the European Union.
Among the challenges are that the waste from lithium batteries is currently classified as hazardous waste. ITC recommendations include considering classifying end-of- life batteries as secondary, rather than not hazardous, waste. The study also recommends implementing ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ for lithium-ion batteries and revising customs codes for secondary battery materials. This regional approach on policy would improve investment attractiveness for creating a new waste recycling facility for the Indian Ocean region.
‘As the demand for batteries as clean energy solutions grows, so does the need for effective battery recycling to ensure a sustainable and competitive industry,’ said Oskar Benedikt, Ambassador of the EU to Mauritius and Seychelles.
