Sierra Leone's fish trade runs on ice, fuel and luck. Solar freezers with their own power stations have given Freetown traders a first rung; the next rung is a solar frozen store for processors and exporters on the same design used in Nouakchott.
Key facts
- FBE 250 L solar freezer units with 2 kW solar generators are in use with Freetown fish traders, often shared between several traders.
- Next step: 10 MT solar frozen stores at −25 °C, containerised, coastal build, 10–14 weeks to operational.
- Delivered through Freetown port; local distributor support for portable units.
- Dollar-earning exporters qualify for Energy-as-a-Service from a single site; traders and cooperatives buy outright.
The trader's rung
A 250-litre freezer, a 2 kW solar power station and panels — no fuel, no crew, set up at the stall. Unsold fish is held overnight instead of sold at a loss; ice is made for sales and transport. Groups of traders share a unit and split the cost.
The processor's rung
Processors and exporters need tonnes, not litres. The containerised 10-tonne store with ~46 kWp of solar and ~150 kWh of battery — the Nouakchott design — ships as a single container and is built for salt air. Temperature is logged for buyers.
Financing in Sierra Leone
Exporters paid in dollars or euros go straight to a service contract with nothing upfront. Cooperatives and traders buy portable units through distributors; Frontières Bay is recruiting distributors in Freetown now.
In Sierra Leone? Ask about units or a cold store.
Talk to Frontières BayFrequently asked
Do you have a Freetown distributor?
Yes for portable units; we are adding more. Apply through the partner page.
Can a cooperative buy a cold store?
Yes, as a direct purchase; with an exporter off-taker a service contract is possible.