Africa Low-Voltage LiFePO4 Storage Import Guide: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Ghana (2026 Compliance Checklist)

Importers, distributors and installers in Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg and Accra ask the same questions before they order 51.2V (48V class) storage batteries: which pre-shipment certificate will customs want, which duty line applies, and what changed in 2026? Supplier pages often disagree with each other, for example on the South African Letter of Authority. This guide lists what we could confirm on official pages on 15 October 2026, what we could only partly confirm, and what you should ask your customs broker. Every row carries a status.

LJY Energy is a China-based LiFePO4 battery supplier and OEM/ODM solutions provider offering customization, project-confirmed specifications and export supply coordination. Documents, test reports and the producing site are stated per model in the quotation; this page makes no certificate claim.

Send your model, country and volume for a documents check

How to read Status: [Verified 15 Oct 2026, official source] = we read the statement on the linked official page, gazette or PDF on that date. [Partly verified] = an official source covers part of the point, or the text is old, indicative or guidance. [Not verified] = we could not read an official source, so do not rely on it. [Industry reference], [Optional configuration] and [Confirmed per project] are used for battery configuration rows.

At a glance: four countries, what is confirmed

Topic Item Detail Status
South Africa Letter of Authority (LOA) for tariff heading 8507.60 SARS: “Tariff heading 8507.60 does not require a Letter of Authority” (update of 31 January 2025). [Verified 15 Oct 2026, official source]
South Africa Duty on lithium-ion batteries ITAC Notice 3864 of 2026 (27 March 2026) lists 8507.60 at Free with a bound rate of 15% and makes a preliminary recommendation of 15% on fully assembled lithium-ion batteries. No final decision found. [Verified as a preliminary notice]
Nigeria SONCAP pre-shipment certificates SON: PC and SONCAP Certificate are mandatory for SON-regulated goods. The only official regulated-product list we could read is from 2007 and names non-automotive batteries (HS 8506, 8507 excluding 8507.10). [Partly verified]
Nigeria Duty on HS 8507.60 The Customs handbook example row labelled lithium-ion uses a primary-lithium code (8506.50). We could not read the line for 8507.60. [Not verified]
Kenya PVoC certificate of conformity KEBS: products subject to PVoC need a CoC or CoR from a KEBS-appointed contractor before shipping. Whether a stationary storage battery is on the regulated list: not confirmed. [Verified: mechanism] · [Not verified]: product scope
Kenya Duty on 8507.60 EAC Common External Tariff 2022 version, hosted by KRA: 8507.60.00 lithium-ion 25%; parts (8507.90) 10%. Later changes, VAT and levies not checked. [Verified: published CET text]
Ghana GSA EasyPass conformity assessment Mandatory for shipments from 1 July 2026; HS chapter 85 is in scope. The exporter applies for a Request for Certificate (RFC). [Verified 15 Oct 2026, official source]
Ghana Renewable energy battery regulation LI 2452 Listed by the Energy Commission as in force since 2 November 2022 with a one-year transition. Operative text not read. [Partly verified]
Ghana Duty on 8507.60 Revenue Authority tariff page could not be opened from our network. [Not verified]

South Africa

South Africa is where supplier statements conflict most. Some exporter guides still say an NRCS Letter of Authority is needed for every battery model. For tariff heading 8507.60 the SARS notice says otherwise. Equipment that contains a battery, and other headings such as power converters, are separate questions.

Topic Item Detail Status
Customs LOA for lithium-ion, heading 8507.60 SARS “What’s new” list, 31 January 2025: “Tariff heading 8507.60 does not require a Letter of Authority”. The same list (7 June 2023 entry) had 8507.60 and 8504.40 among headings detained for NRCS, so the change matters for older quotes. Equipment containing batteries and other headings: check the current list. [Verified 15 Oct 2026, official source]
NRCS Compulsory specification VC 8055 VC 8055 (electric and electronic apparatus up to 600V) exists on the NRCS list. The draft amendment text we read names UPS and PV power converters and does not mention batteries. NRCS planning documents are reported to include a lithium-battery specification, which we could not confirm because the PDF would not open. [Partly verified]
Duty Ordinary customs duty, 8507.60 ITAC Notice 3864 of 2026, Table 1: applicable rate Free, bound rate 15%. Preliminary determination to recommend 15% on fully assembled lithium-ion batteries through a new 8-digit subheading. The notice says no final determination has been made. We found no gazetted change. [Verified: preliminary notice only]
Our reading What a split could mean If a 15% rate is created for assembled batteries only, whether you import finished packs, or cells, modules and components for local assembly, could change the duty. Ask your broker how each would be classified. [Industry reference] (reading, not official)

Questions for your broker: Is my model classified under 8507.60 and is it free of LOA today? Does my inverter or charger line need an NRCS LOA? Has ITAC or SARS gazetted a new subheading since 27 March 2026? What does the local installer need for the electrical certificate of compliance?

Nigeria

Topic Item Detail Status
SON SONCAP is a pre-shipment scheme SON FAQ: SONCAP is “an offshore and pre-shipment certification scheme … applicable to all SON-regulated products imported into Nigeria”. The Product Certificate and the SONCAP Certificate “are mandatory for the processing of Form M and Nigerian Customs’ clearance of SON-regulated goods”. Non-compliant regulated goods can be detained, tested and destroyed at the importer’s cost. [Verified 15 Oct 2026, official source]
SON Are lithium batteries on the regulated list? A CBN-hosted SONCAP list from 2007 reads “Non-automotive batteries incl. UPS batteries etc: all types … are regulated”, HS 8506 and 8507 (excluding 8507.10). We could not find a current list on the SON pages we read, nor the Nigerian standard used for stationary lithium batteries or the certification route. [Partly verified]
Customs Handbook for renewable and energy-efficiency goods The Nigeria Customs Service handbook says a SONCAP certificate is “Mandatory for most RE/EE goods” and tells readers to check the annual Fiscal Policy Measures for current rates and waivers. [Verified: handbook statement, indicative]
Duty Rate for HS 8507.60 The handbook annex shows “Lithium-ion Battery” at 20% duty and 7.5% VAT, but under code 85065000 (primary lithium cells), not 8507.60. The customs tariff portal returned an access error from our network. 2026 fiscal measures not read. [Not verified]

Questions for your clearing agent: Is my exact HS code and product on the current SON regulated list, and under which route (A, B or C)? Which Nigerian standard will SON test against? Which duty line and which fiscal-policy measure apply to my declaration? Is the VAT treatment for renewable-energy equipment confirmed for my product?

Kenya

Topic Item Detail Status
KEBS PVoC pre-export verification KEBS: PVoC is conformity assessment “at the respective exporting countries to ensure compliance with the applicable Standards, Technical Regulations or approved specifications”. Exporters must ensure consignments “have been issued with a CoC, or CoR by PVoC Contractors for all products subject to the PVoC program before shipping”. KRA uses the CoC as a clearance reference. Goods from countries not covered by the programme go to destination inspection; China is not on the excluded list shown. [Verified 15 Oct 2026, official source]
KEBS Is a stationary storage battery a PVoC product, and which standard? We could not read the KEBS regulated-product list, the PVoC Manual v15 or the standards catalogue. A news report says KEBS required mandatory PVoC for electric motorcycle and electric motor-vehicle batteries from 1 January 2024; that concerns traction batteries, not home storage. Do not assume a standard number (for example IEC 62619) without KEBS or your PVoC contractor confirming it. [Not verified]
Duty EAC CET, HS 8507.60.00 EAC Common External Tariff 2022 version (Legal Notice EAC/117/2022), KRA-hosted file: “8507.60.00 Lithium-ion 25%”; “8507.90.00 Parts” raised from 0% to 10%; “8506.50.00 Lithium” 35% (a different line: primary lithium). Later EAC gazettes, remissions, VAT status, IDF and RDL levies were not checked. [Verified: published CET text]

Questions for your clearing agent: Which PVoC contractor do we use and which Kenyan standard will they assess my model against? Is a lower duty or VAT treatment available for solar storage, and under which current notice? What does the installer need to see on the battery label?

Ghana

Topic Item Detail Status
GSA EasyPass conformity assessment GSA data sheet (05/2026): notice to importers published 18 May 2026, launched 1 June 2026, “Mandatory application from July 1st, 2026 (Date of Shipment)”. Scope is by HS code and lists chapter 85, which contains 8507. The exporter files a Request for Certificate with the final invoice (a proforma is accepted) and conformity documents such as test reports and quality certificates. [Verified 15 Oct 2026, official source]
GSA Standards and marking Applicable standards are applied in this order: Ghanaian, international, European, national, then manufacturer specifications. Markings and instructions must be in at least English. Control testing in an ISO 17025 laboratory applies when conformity documents are missing or not acceptable. The sheet names no specific standard for lithium batteries. [Verified 15 Oct 2026, official source]
Energy Commission LI 2452 Renewable Energy Batteries Regulations, 2022 The Commission’s public notice lists LI 2452 among regulations in force since 2 November 2022 with a one-year transition. A secondary summary says it covers renewable-energy batteries imported for sale or use regardless of size. We could not open the regulation, so test standard, minimum performance and registration steps are not confirmed. [Partly verified]
Revenue Authority Duty and levies on 8507.60 The GRA tariff page could not be opened from our network in two attempts. Secondary websites quote a rate; we do not repeat it. [Not verified]

Questions for your clearing agent: Does my shipment need an EasyPass certificate and which route applies? Does LI 2452 require registration of my battery model with the Energy Commission before sale? What are the current duty, VAT and levy lines for 8507.60?

51.2V storage sizes these checks usually apply to

The same documents questions apply to each size. Energy is arithmetic (nominal voltage x Ah); usable energy depends on the depth of discharge in the rating and the inverter settings.

Group Parameter Value Status
Energy 51.2V (48V class) 100Ah 51.2V x 100Ah = 5,120Wh. Wall, rack and stackable formats. See the 51.2V 100Ah wall-mounted battery and the rack-mount battery. [Industry reference] (arithmetic)
Energy 51.2V (48V class) 200Ah 51.2V x 200Ah = 10,240Wh. See the 200Ah wall-mounted battery. [Industry reference] (arithmetic)
Energy 51.2V (48V class) 314Ah 51.2V x 314Ah = 16,077Wh. See the 314Ah floor-standing cabinet. [Industry reference] (arithmetic)
Configuration BMS protocol, enclosure, label language and logo Communication profile for your inverter, enclosure rating, label wording (English for Ghana) and branding are set per project. See the 51.2V inverter communication guide. No compatibility list is published. [Optional configuration] · [Confirmed per project]
Documents Test reports and certificates for the exact model Listed in the quotation if they exist. This page makes no certificate claim for LJY. [Confirmed per project]

Shipping documents are not conformity documents

UN 38.3 test summary and safety data sheet are shipping documents for lithium batteries (Class 9 dangerous goods). They do not replace a SONCAP, PVoC, EasyPass or NRCS-related document. Keep the two lists separate when you brief your forwarder and your clearing agent. See the lithium battery import guide and the incoming inspection guide.

Buyer checklist before you order

  • Write the exact HS code and product description you will declare, and ask your broker to confirm it for the country of import.
  • Ask the supplier which documents exist for the exact model: test reports, who holds them, the issuing laboratory and the date. A document is relevant only if it names your model.
  • Decide whether you are buying finished packs, or cells, modules and components for local assembly. Duty and conformity treatment can differ.
  • Confirm whether the pre-shipment step (SONCAP, PVoC, EasyPass) is done by the exporter or the importer, and who pays and files.
  • Ask for the label draft before production: model name, ratings, country wording and language.
  • Keep the date of every rule you rely on. These rules change by notice.
  • Ask for a written warranty and service route for your country. See the warranty terms guide.

What LJY can support, per project

Topic Item Detail Status
Documents Datasheet, label draft, packing details and shipping documents Prepared per model and quoted in the quotation [Confirmed per project]
Configuration Voltage, capacity, BMS and communication settings, enclosure, label and logo OEM/ODM and private label per project [Optional configuration] · [Confirmed per project]
Components Cells, BMS, enclosure and harness for customers who assemble locally Scope and shipping stated in the quotation [Confirmed per project]
Test reports and certificates Which reports exist for the exact model and who holds them Listed in the quotation. Not stated on this page [Confirmed per project]
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Frequently asked questions

Is an NRCS Letter of Authority still required for lithium batteries in South Africa?

For tariff heading 8507.60, SARS announced on 31 January 2025 that a Letter of Authority is not required. Other headings, and equipment that contains batteries, are separate. Ask your broker to check the current Prohibited and Restricted Imports list for each line on your invoice.

Will South Africa raise duty on lithium batteries?

ITAC has made a preliminary recommendation of 15% on fully assembled lithium-ion batteries (Notice 3864 of 2026). The notice states it is not a final determination, and we found no gazetted change. Check again before you ship.

Do batteries need SONCAP for Nigeria?

SONCAP is mandatory for SON-regulated goods. A 2007 official list names non-automotive batteries, but we could not read a current list. Ask SON or your clearing agent to confirm your product and route.

Which standard does Kenya use for storage batteries?

We could not confirm one from official sources. KEBS PVoC assesses against applicable Kenya standards or approved specifications. Ask your PVoC contractor which one applies to your model.

Is there a new certificate for Ghana in 2026?

GSA EasyPass became mandatory for shipments from 1 July 2026 and covers HS chapter 85. The exporter applies for a Request for Certificate. Confirm with GSA whether your product is in scope and which documents they accept.

Does LJY Energy hold SONCAP, PVoC, EasyPass or NRCS documents?

This page makes no such statement. Certificate and test-report status is confirmed per model in the quotation.

Can you supply cells or parts for local assembly?

We can discuss cells, BMS, enclosures and harness per project. Duty and conformity treatment is decided by the importing country and depends on how the goods are classified.

Related guides and products

Sources (checked 15 October 2026)

General information compiled from the public sources listed below on 15 October 2026. It is not legal, customs or tax advice. Duty lines, standards lists and certification rules change by notice: confirm the current text with your customs broker or the issuing authority before you order. Mentions of authorities, standards or schemes describe their rules and imply no relationship with them. LJY Energy makes no statement on this page that it holds any certificate or registration.