LME Asian session brief: At opening, LME lead 3M showed a trending upward on, with steady buying interest. Prices opened at $1,927–1,928/t, briefly softened, then rose to an intraday high of $1,941.5/t before consolidating around $1,935/t, resist at higher levels, ending up at increase of $9.50. Overall, sentiment was mildly bullish. Highlights of Western Asian and SEA lead-acid battery market: Lead battery market recently has not yet been impacted by shortage of remelted lead, thanks to the safety net of long-term contracts. Current long-term contracts for 99.985 lead priced at a premium of $80-100 over the LME price. As the shortage of remelted lead is expected to gradually tighten in mid-long term, this will be putting pressure on the profit margins of battery companies.

[SMM New Energy Flash News] Nigeria faces a growing environmental and public health crisis due to the improper disposal and crude recycling of used batteries, especially lead-acid and lithium-ion types. In cities like Aba, batteries are often discarded in dumpsites where rainwater washes toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium into soil and groundwater, leading to kidney disease, neurological problems, developmental delays in children, and even cancer. Despite the government’s introduction of the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programmes, poor enforcement and the dominance of informal recycling sectors have left millions exposed to hazardous contamination. Experts stress that only through stronger regulations, proper recycling infrastructure, public awareness, and international cooperation can Nigeria address the environmental, health, and economic costs, which amount to billions annually.

[Completion Information of Fixed Lead Battery ESS Project] It is reported that recently, the 4MW/16MWh solid-state lead battery ESS power station, invested by China Resources Power and constructed by Ruida International Group, has been fully connected to the grid. The completion of this project not only marks another significant milestone in the application of solid-state lead battery ESS technology but also sets an example for large-scale safe ESS on the user side.