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South Africa’s imports of lithium-ion batteries have fallen sharply since the peak of electricity outages in 2022 and 2023.
In 2023, the country imported R32.4-billion worth of lithium-ion batteries. This dropped to R8.1-billion in 2024. In the first quarter of 2025, imports amounted to R1.9-billion, putting the country on track to match last year’s total. Most of these batteries are imported from China.
Despite the decrease in imports, South Africa remains invested in battery energy storage.
Eskom began its battery energy storage project in 2018, planning to install 12 grid-connected storage systems. According to Eskom’s 2024 annual report, three systems have been commissioned so far, one in Worcester, Western Cape, and two in KwaZulu-Natal, with a combined capacity of 68MW/292MWh.
These large-scale storage systems rely on lithium-ion technology, the same type used in the smaller batteries found in the rooftop solar systems installed by households, businesses, farms and factories across the country.