Local investment firm Tabono Investments has signed a partnership agreement with battery recycling platform ACE Green Recycling to build two environmentally sustainable battery recycling facilities in South Africa.

Through this joint venture, the companies aim to bring radical change to the management of South Africa’s battery waste.

According to the companies, the green energy facilities will separately process and recycle lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, utilising ACE’s proprietary technology that creates zero scope one emissions by operating without fossil fuel-based heating.

Both recycling facilities will be greenfield projects to be developed and operated through the joint venture. Under the new structure, ACE will own 51% of the recycling facilities and Tabono will own 49%, according to the companies.

“Green energy is on the rise in South Africa and, with it, lead-acid and lithium-ion battery usage,” says Tabono co-founder Liran Assness.

Tabono’s other co-founder Reon Barnard added that, “With dedicated environmentally friendly ways of recycling batteries, the world can leverage valuable materials like lead, lithium and cobalt, and power our future in a less harmful way.”

“We are committed to ensuring emerging markets benefit from our clean battery recycling solutions,” said Nishchay Chadha, ACE CEO and co-founder.

“Combining our expertise with Tabono will ensure development of safe and sustainable closed-loop solutions for battery materials within South Africa.”

Once established, the joint venture will leverage each partner’s strengths. ACE has developed a portfolio of proprietary technologies to recycle lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries and capture their critical materials at market-leading recovery yields. Tabono brings vast experience in the minerals and industrial services industries across Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa.

Earlier this year, Tabono Investments acquired a stake in Advanced Group, a risk management, mitigation and emergency response specialist entrenched in the mining sector.