Sustainable cooling firm KoolBoks has unveiled a solar-powered refrigeration platform designed to tackle Nigeria’s growing food spoilage crisis and the worsening impacts of climate change.
Koolboks noted in a statement that it offers flexible, pay-as-you-go financing for solar refrigerators, allowing households and small businesses to either swap old electric freezers for solar models, convert existing ones using plug-and-play kits, or buy new solar-powered units with a deposit as low as 10 per cent.
Chief Executive Officer of Koolboks, Ayoola Dominic, said the company launched the platform to address the damage to medicine and food due to a lack of cooling. The launch was hosted by skit maker and comedian Layi Wasabi.
“This is not just about convenience; it’s about survival,” Dominic said at the Lagos launch. “Lack of cooling destroys medicine, accelerates food waste, and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. By solving the cooling problem, we are directly fighting climate change.”
Dominic cited data showing that over 40 per cent of food in Sub-Saharan Africa is lost due to a lack of refrigeration, while cold storage access stands at a meagre 17 per cent, compared to over 90 per cent in developed countries.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s poor handling of medical waste, saying the country generates between 13 and 632.5 grams per person daily, referencing figures from the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. “KoolBuy is making clean cooling accessible. Cooling used to be a luxury. Today, it’s a right, and KoolBuy is making that a reality,” Dominic declared.
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Deborah Gael said the innovation eliminates the need for petrol or unreliable grid electricity.
“Imagine running your frozen food business without spending a naira on petrol. That’s the freedom we’re offering,” Gael said. “We’re giving Nigerians access to modern refrigeration without the burdens of fuel or unreliable electricity.”
A standout feature of KoolBuy is the PowerFoot Pedestal, a plug-and-play solar energy system that transforms any existing freezer into a solar-powered appliance. It comes with rooftop panels and lithium batteries that guarantee 24/7 cooling, even during cloudy days or blackouts.
The company said it has partnered with trusted appliance brands like Thermocool and Scanfrost, offering daily, weekly, and monthly payment plans tailored for small businesses, frozen food sellers, and rural households.
KoolBuy dealer, Mr Chigozie Ezenwanne, described the platform as a game-changer for grassroots businesses, stating, “With KoolBuy, you’re not just buying a freezer; you’re escaping fuel costs, erratic electricity, and food loss. This is economic empowerment for the grassroots.”
He urged the government to adopt similar financing models to tackle energy poverty.
“KoolBuy is already doing what the government struggles to do, bringing energy access to the people. With policy support, this can go national,” Ezenwanne added.
Koolboks called on the Federal Government to enable duty-free imports of solar products, enforce quality standards, and invest in public awareness about clean energy benefits.
“This is about justice, climate justice, food justice, and economic justice,” Dominic stated. “Everyone deserves access to clean, affordable cooling, not just the privileged few.”
