The largest battery manufacturing plant in West Africa, Union Autoparts Manufacturing Co. Ltd, owned by industrialist Cletus Ibeto, lies eerily silent in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. A facility with a massive potential to recycle over 500,000 tons of used lead-acid batteries annually now stands still, its machines covered in dust and its workers idle. This inactivity starkly contrasts the estimated N100 billion used lead-acid battery (ULAB) market in Nigeria.
The Factory: A Dream Deferred
Union Autoparts Mfg. Co. Ltd, established in 1987 by Cletus Ibeto, was once a beacon of industrial ambition. By 1995, it was among the largest auto spare parts manufacturers in Nigeria. It expanded into battery production, commissioning two state-of-the-art 10-ton rotary furnaces in 2015, with an annual recycling capacity of 250,000 tonnes. Despite this, the factory faces a crippling shortage of used batteries, rendering its operations unsustainable.
The Challenge: Export vs. Local Recycling
The key raw material—used batteries—is diverted to unregulated processors and exporters who smelt battery plates into crude lead ingots for shipment to India and China. These exporters pay higher prices than the factory can afford, given its operational costs and adherence to environmental standards. This has left Union Autoparts struggling to source enough material to sustain its operations.
Environmental and Economic Implications
The unchecked export and informal processing of ULABs have dire consequences:
•Health Hazards: Informal recyclers often drain battery acid into the ground, releasing toxic lead into the soil and water. Studies have found dangerously high lead levels around recycling sites, posing severe health risks, especially to children.
•Economic Loss: While the Basel Convention restricts the export of hazardous waste when local recycling capacity exists, Nigeria’s lack of enforcement results in significant economic value being lost to foreign markets.
Government’s Role and Industry Disputes
Despite calls for stricter regulations, the Federal Government has not banned ULAB exports. While agencies like the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) advocate local recycling, enforcement remains weak. Critics, including exporters, argue that local recyclers lack the capacity to process ULABs fully, a claim Union Autoparts disputes.
A Call for Action
For Union Autoparts Mfg. Co. Ltd to fulfill its potential and for Nigeria to maximize the value of its ULAB market, several measures are essential:
1.Policy Enforcement: Strict regulation of ULAB exports to ensure local recyclers have adequate supply.
2.Infrastructure Investment: Government support to expand local recycling capacity and reduce operational costs.
3.Public Awareness: Educating stakeholders on the environmental and economic benefits of proper battery recycling.
The Future
Cletus Ibeto’s Union Autoparts plant stands as a symbol of Nigeria’s untapped industrial potential. With strategic interventions, this factory can reclaim its purpose, providing jobs, protecting the environment, and driving local economic growth. Until then, its silent machines and idle workers remain a stark reminder of unfulfilled dreams in Nigeria’s industrial landscape.
This story underscores the importance of fostering sustainable practices and policies in Nigeria’s recycling sector. It is a call to action for government and private stakeholders to work together to revive not just a factory but an industry that could transform the nation.
