Dulas refrigerators support Ethiopia’s Journey to Immunisation Security
The Challenge: Reaching the Last Mile
Ethiopia faces significant logistical hurdles in maintaining a reliable cold chain for its national immunisation program. Remote health facilities and smaller regional hospitals often operate without consistent access to the national electricity grid, jeopardising the integrity of life-saving vaccines.
A robust, sustainable, and reliable cold chain solution was needed, capable of performing in nine diverse and challenging regions including Afar, Oromia, and Somali ensuring every child, no matter how remote, receives effective immunisation.
Loading the trucks ready for delivery
SNNPR Bench Maji Zone Sheko Woreda Sheko Health Centre
The Solution: Solar Direct Drive (SDD) Technology & Local Expertise
To address the cold chain infrastructure gaps, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), supported by international initiatives from GAVI/UNICEF (CCEOP), selected Dulas’s WHO PQS pre-qualified solar-powered refrigerators to be deployed in Ethiopia.
The core of the successful deployment rested on the long-term, strategic partnership between Dulas and its trusted in-country partner, Beta Engineering.
Partnership in Action: Beta Engineering’s Critical Role
While Dulas provided the VC60SDD, VC110SDD and VC200SDD units, Beta Engineering was responsible for the on-the-ground implementation, acting as Dulas’s dedicated in-country partner in Ethiopia. Their responsibilities included:
- Complex Logistics: Managing storage, customs clearance, and long-distance transport from central Addis Ababa warehouses to regional facilities.
- Installation & Commissioning: Professional installation and commissioning of the Solar Direct Drive systems at health posts, centres, and hospitals.
- Comprehensive Training: Delivering both theoretical and practical training for Regional Health Bureau (RHB) representatives, biomedical engineers, and health facility personnel to ensure long-term, self-sufficient operation.
Challenging logistics encountered by the delivery team
Poor infrastructure contributing to difficult road conditions
Beta Engineering team at their HQ
Beta Engineering installation team
Results and Impact: Over 600 refrigerators deployed in Ethiopia
Since 2018, the partnership has systematically upgraded Ethiopia’s critical vaccine storage capacity across the country.
By the completion of the current projects, Dulas and their in-country partner Beta Engineering will have successfully installed over 600 solar cold chain systems across hospitals and health centres. These projects span multiple Ethiopian regions, bringing reliable, independent refrigeration to some of the most remote and vulnerable communities.
| Project | Details | Timeline | Dulas Model Deployed |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAVI CCEOP 1.0 (FMOH) | Installation of 134 Dulas® VC200SDD units in four regions (Afar, Benishangul, Somali, Gambella). | Oct 2018 – May 2019 | VC200SDD |
| GAVI CCEOP 1.0 (FMOH) | Installation of 194 Dulas® VC110SDD units in five regions (Afar, Gambella, SNNPR, Oromia, Somali, etc.). | Oct 2021 – June 2022 | VC110SDD |
| GAVI CCEOP 2.0 (FMOH) | Installation of 307 Dulas® VC60SDD units in seven regions (Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, Somali, etc.). | Jan 2025 – Oct 2025 (In Progress) | VC60SDD |
“We have worked with Beta Engineering for almost a decade and have a fantastic relationship built on trust, based on their experience and consistent ability to deliver multiple projects over the years. We can rely on them to manage complex local logistical issues, perform quality installations, and be available for ongoing project support if needed.”
Catherine McLennan – Commercial Lead, Dulas Ltd
Fridge arrives at health centre, ready to be unpacked
Beta Engineering personnel providing end user training
Conclusion: A Model for Sustainable Health Delivery
The collaborative success between Dulas and Beta Engineering provides a clear model for sustainable health development. By combining Dulas’s world-class, PQS-certified solar technology with Beta Engineering’s deep local knowledge and logistical capabilities, the partnership has created a robust, climate-resilient solution that safeguards the Ethiopian immunisation supply chain for the long term.
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