Wednesday 13th July 2023 – Bboxx Rwanda has launched a new sub-brand, “Bboxx Cook” that will provide clean cooking services across Rwanda. Bboxx Cook aims to enable Rwandan households and small businesses like restaurants to get Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) clean cooking systems without paying the full price up-front. The clean cooking products, now available and on sale at two Bboxx Cook locations in Kigali (Remera and Kicukiro), include gas cookers, cylinders and ongoing gas refills for customers who sign up.
With the pay-as-you-cook model, customers make a down payment that is a small fraction of the equipment cost, and the rest of the payments are spread out over a period of six months to one year. Every time a customer pays for a gas refill, a small amount goes towards the equipment they are already using.
“The launch of Bboxx Cook is a continuation of what we have been doing successfully for over twelve years in Rwanda. Our products whether solar home systems or clean cooking are developed to be affordable and sensitive to the environment and the health of our customers”. Justus Mucyo, Bboxx Rwanda Managing Director commented.
“We chose LPG because it is the most accessible, efficient and a cleaner energy alternative to charcoal and firewood.” John Kamali, Bboxx Rwanda’s Head of Projects, and Innovations commented.
In Rwanda today, 83.3% of the population uses biomass as a source of energy for cooking (charcoal and firewood) and cooking accounts for 14% of the greenhouse gas emissions from the country’s energy sector. High dependency on wood fuel is impacting the country’s forest cover. In line with this, the government is currently implementing a Biomass Energy Strategy that aims to reduce the number of households that use firewood to 42% by 2024, phase out the use of charcoal in urban areas and to achieve universal clean cooking access by 2030.
One of the key obstacles to adopting clean cooking is the high initial payment barrier. Whereas many customers can afford to buy gas every month, most customers cannot afford the initial cost of buying the equipment. LPG gas costs are competitive when compared to the cost of firewood and charcoal; both range between 12,000Frw and 20,000 Frw. However initial costs to start cooking with LPG in a home can range from 100,000 Frw and 200,000 Frw due to purchase of the gas cooker, the canister, and the gas. Bboxx Cook aims to enable customers to overcome this initial payment obstacle. As a next generation utility, Bboxx will continue to use its innovative Bboxx Pulse®, an Internet of Things (IoT) technology to accelerate access to vital utilities for all Rwandans. Using Pulse, Bboxx can remotely deliver, monitor, and manage essential products and services in a scalable and trackable manner.
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About us
Bboxx is a data-driven super platform, transforming lives and unlocking potential by connecting consumers and deploying innovative products across Africa.
Bboxx is championing the economic empowerment of Africa, accelerating the transition to the digital economy and creating new markets. We have built Bboxx Pulse®, a fully integrated operating system, and combined it with an extensive on-the-ground network to connect customers with clean energy, clean cooking, smartphones, e-mobility and selected financial products – many for the first time.
We are connecting both underserved rural communities and aspiring urban ones with a highly convenient and affordable way to access life-changing solutions, through last mile logistics and data-powered innovative financing methods. We offer our services on a pay-as-you-go basis to households, businesses, and communities, enabling African consumers to unlock their potential.
We build strategic partnerships with investors, utilities providers, global companies, and governments to accelerate growth and provide a wide range of products to consumers in Africa. Our partners are seizing a massive market opportunity by plugging into Bboxx – developed through green tech and big data and designed for scale.
Following the successful acquisition of solar energy frontrunner PEG Africa in 2022, Bboxx is now positively impacting the lives of more than 3.5 million people in 10 operating markets, directly contributing to 11 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Bboxx and its group of companies is one of the largest networks in Africa, with over 4,000 staff across Africa and offices in the UK and Asia.
For more information please contact:
Bboxx / Impact and Influence
Email: bboxx@impactandinfluence.global
Contact:
Nicholas Moore
nicholas@impactandinfluence.global
+44 7527 695154
