UNB, Dhaka :
A move by state-owned IDCOL to allow the use of Li-ion batteries in solar home systems (SHS) has plunged the local lead acid battery manufacturers into grave concern with their billions of takas of investment.
The local battery manufacturers, who have been making a significant contribution in substituting battery import, feel a great threat to their future growth in business.
Even those who have been exporting batteries worldwide with good reputation amid tough global competition, are apprehensive about their export business and expansion plan.
Industry sources said, so far, the local battery manufacturers are in the leading position in supplying the batteries for SHS and also in other sectors.
At present, according to Bangladesh Accumulator & Battery Manufacturers Association (BABMA), annually about 2.8 million pieces of batteries are used by different sectors in the country with a 10 percent growth rate.
Of these, 600,000 pieces are used by motor vehicles, 400,000 pieces by IPS and UPS users, 150,000 pieces by heavy equipment of the industries, 1,000,000 pieces by electric vehicles and electric-rickshaw, and 700,000 pieces by the solar system.
Experts say lead-acid batteries are made up of plates of lead and separate plates of lead dioxide, which are submerged into an electrolyte solution of about 38 percent sulphuric acid and 62 percent water.
Whereas, Li-ion battery or LIB or lithium-ion battery is a member of a family of rechargeable battery types in which lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge and back when charging.
Li-ion batteries use an intercalated lithium compound as one electrode material, compared to the metallic lithium used in a non-rechargeable lithium battery.
These Li-ion batteries are mainly used in the mobile phone sets and small electronic devices. There is no recycling plant in Bangladesh to dispose of the batteries and setting up of recycling plant is very expensive.
But the IDCOL has recently taken a move to allow the Li-ion batteries for solar home system (SHS) programme with an argument in favour of its hazardless and environment-friendly nature.
Many allege that with the influence of some donor agencies, and development partners in the interest of their own countries’ interest, IDCOL has pushed for such move which will be suicidal for the local industries.
They also said Li-ion batteries are neither fully safe, nor fully hazardless as there are many reports of blasts in Li-ion batteries used in laptops or smart phones in different countries.
They also noted that Li-ion batteries in small SHS will push up their cost, while the price of such batteries is 6-7 times higher which may not be affordable for small solar system users.
On the issue, IDCOL deputy CEO Formanul Islam, however, said their move on Li-ion battery is only for small solar home systems (SHS) having capacity of below 10 watts, not for the big systems.
“Although the Li-ion battery will push up the small SHS 6-7 times higher, but we allow these batteries as those are hazardless and most environment-friendly,” he said.
About the reports of blasts of Li-ion battery in laptops and smartphones in different countries on several occasions, he said those are rare incidents.
Local battery manufacturers see the IDCOL argument of latest technology and safety features as untrue, and it is not appropriate in Bangladesh context as Li-ion battery is very expensive and its recycling system is not available in the country.
“Only strong and encouraging role by the government can ensure the growth and further development of the lead acid batteries. And introduction of Li-ion batteries will not address the appropriate technology issue, and end of life recycling will be expensive eventually leading to dumping in our land fills and water bodies leading to environmental crisis,” said Munawar Misbash Moin, president of Bangladesh Accumulator & Battery Manufacturers Association (BABMA).
He said the government and IDCOL should discourage this move for the sake of growing the local battery industry.
The local battery producers are also doubtful about the IDCOL move. “If the Li-on batteries are allowed in any solar system, it will finally get the chance to enter the other system and the country has to spend millions of dollars for their import inviting a disaster for local industry,” said a local manufacturer.
A move by state-owned IDCOL to allow the use of Li-ion batteries in solar home systems (SHS) has plunged the local lead acid battery manufacturers into grave concern with their billions of takas of investment.
The local battery manufacturers, who have been making a significant contribution in substituting battery import, feel a great threat to their future growth in business.
Even those who have been exporting batteries worldwide with good reputation amid tough global competition, are apprehensive about their export business and expansion plan.
Industry sources said, so far, the local battery manufacturers are in the leading position in supplying the batteries for SHS and also in other sectors.
At present, according to Bangladesh Accumulator & Battery Manufacturers Association (BABMA), annually about 2.8 million pieces of batteries are used by different sectors in the country with a 10 percent growth rate.
Of these, 600,000 pieces are used by motor vehicles, 400,000 pieces by IPS and UPS users, 150,000 pieces by heavy equipment of the industries, 1,000,000 pieces by electric vehicles and electric-rickshaw, and 700,000 pieces by the solar system.
Experts say lead-acid batteries are made up of plates of lead and separate plates of lead dioxide, which are submerged into an electrolyte solution of about 38 percent sulphuric acid and 62 percent water.
Whereas, Li-ion battery or LIB or lithium-ion battery is a member of a family of rechargeable battery types in which lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge and back when charging.
Li-ion batteries use an intercalated lithium compound as one electrode material, compared to the metallic lithium used in a non-rechargeable lithium battery.
These Li-ion batteries are mainly used in the mobile phone sets and small electronic devices. There is no recycling plant in Bangladesh to dispose of the batteries and setting up of recycling plant is very expensive.
But the IDCOL has recently taken a move to allow the Li-ion batteries for solar home system (SHS) programme with an argument in favour of its hazardless and environment-friendly nature.
Many allege that with the influence of some donor agencies, and development partners in the interest of their own countries’ interest, IDCOL has pushed for such move which will be suicidal for the local industries.
They also said Li-ion batteries are neither fully safe, nor fully hazardless as there are many reports of blasts in Li-ion batteries used in laptops or smart phones in different countries.
They also noted that Li-ion batteries in small SHS will push up their cost, while the price of such batteries is 6-7 times higher which may not be affordable for small solar system users.
On the issue, IDCOL deputy CEO Formanul Islam, however, said their move on Li-ion battery is only for small solar home systems (SHS) having capacity of below 10 watts, not for the big systems.
“Although the Li-ion battery will push up the small SHS 6-7 times higher, but we allow these batteries as those are hazardless and most environment-friendly,” he said.
About the reports of blasts of Li-ion battery in laptops and smartphones in different countries on several occasions, he said those are rare incidents.
Local battery manufacturers see the IDCOL argument of latest technology and safety features as untrue, and it is not appropriate in Bangladesh context as Li-ion battery is very expensive and its recycling system is not available in the country.
“Only strong and encouraging role by the government can ensure the growth and further development of the lead acid batteries. And introduction of Li-ion batteries will not address the appropriate technology issue, and end of life recycling will be expensive eventually leading to dumping in our land fills and water bodies leading to environmental crisis,” said Munawar Misbash Moin, president of Bangladesh Accumulator & Battery Manufacturers Association (BABMA).
He said the government and IDCOL should discourage this move for the sake of growing the local battery industry.
The local battery producers are also doubtful about the IDCOL move. “If the Li-on batteries are allowed in any solar system, it will finally get the chance to enter the other system and the country has to spend millions of dollars for their import inviting a disaster for local industry,” said a local manufacturer.
