Orange Energies to provide freezing solutions to 12 African countries

Orange partnered with startup Koolboks to provide freezing and refrigeration solutions in 12 African countries.

The solutions will be distributed through the Orange Energies offer, which was launched five years ago with the ambition of facilitating access to energy through digital solutions.

In a statement, the operator said over 600 million people on the continent do not have access to electricity and the partnership aims to make essential services accessible.

"Koolboks offers both professionals and individuals refrigerators and freezers that are equipped with solar panels and batteries ensuring up to three days of total autonomy," the telco explained.

"The solar equipment also includes LED bulbs and USB ports, which make it possible to charge various electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets," Orange added.

Orange Energies African expansion

According to Orange, the Koolboks solar freezers will be first deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to be followed by 11 other countries where Orange Energies is present soon after.

"Since 2018, Orange Energies has been a partner for all energy producers. Alongside solar power producers, national electricity operators and minigrid managers, we are deploying our pay-as-you-go platform, Orange Smart Energies, to make clean and affordable energy accessible to as many people as possible," said Nat-Sy Missamou, Orange Energies senior vice president, Africa and Middle East.

Power supply issues in Africa have forced telecommunications operators to search out alternative power solutions to connect remote areas. (Source: Image by ASphotofamily on Freepik)

"This partnership marks our entry into a new phase in which our ambition, after giving access to essential services, is to allow families to take control of the development of their communities," Missamou continued.

"Koolboks is proud to partner with Orange to distribute our solar freezers. This product was designed to meet a need, and allow small traders and families to store food and have light in off-grid areas," said Koolboks Founder and CEO Ayoola Dominic.

Telcos offering renewable energies in Africa

Back in 2021 the operator accelerated its solar projects in Africa and the Middle East and committed to reduce its carbon footprint to zero by 2040.

And Orange is not the only telco in Africa to move toward offering renewable energy solutions on the continent. Power supply issues in Africa have forced operators to search out alternative power solutions for towers, especially to connect remote areas.

In July 2023, Ericsson and MTN are partnered to provide mobile broadband services to remote rural areas in Benin using solar power. That deal meant that Ericsson would support MTN Benin's planned rural coverage across 29 sites with energy-efficient Ericsson Radio System products.

In Cameroon, MTN signed a collaboration framework agreement with the Rural Electrification Agency (AER) in June 2023 to supply rural mobile sites with solar energy.

Also in June, MTN launched an integrated wind and solar renewable energy generation project in South Africa.

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*Top image source: Orange Middle East and Africa.

— Matshepo Sehloho, Associate Editor, Connecting Africa