RUP Investments PTE Limited, operating under the retail brand Rups Big Bear, is on an ambitious path to be at the forefront of commercial solar energy adoption in Fiji and to position itself as a leader in corporate sustainability and renewable energy.
The popular brand in household items – whose business portfolio has expanded to include property, forestry, manufacturing and tourism apart from retail – is going big into solar to power its businesses across Fiji and plans to expand its current solar capacity to a total of 1.5 MW.
“Our solar journey has only just begun,” company director Javeer Rup told this newspaper.
“We have now completed approximately 500 kW of on-grid solar and are targeting a total of around 1.5 MW across additional Rups Big Bear locations as part of our broader sustainability strategy this year.”
This month alone, Rups had completed solar installations at Rups Big Bear in Sigatoka, Tavua and two outlets in Ba, continuing work that had started in 2024.
In a statement issued earlier, the company said it is now one of the largest private-sector solar investors and users in Fiji, with over 500 kW of grid-connected solar installed across 11 locations, including retail stores, warehouses and industrial facilities.
“To put this into perspective, the company’s 500 kW solar portfolio reduces carbon emissions by over 600 tonnes each year, the equivalent of planting 30,000 trees, making the environmental impact tangible for communities and stakeholders alike,” Mr Rup said.
Rup Investments has also become the first company in Fiji to power a sawmill with on-grid solar energy, “demonstrating that large-scale solar deployment can be practical, efficient, and environmentally responsible”, a move that it said aligns with Fiji’s national goals to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net-zero targets.
Rup Investments owns and manages over 700 acres of sustainably managed forest in Navua and was awarded the Ministry of Forestry’s Top Sawmill in the Central Division for 2024.
Located in Navua, Rup Investments’ sawmill features world class timber processing equipment, with over 40 full time forestry staff and is also one of few selected companies in Fiji licensed with Fiji Hardwood Corporation to process their sawn logs.
“Our goal is simple,” Mr Rup said. “We want every Rups Big Bear store and facility in Fiji to operate sustainably while providing reliable energy for our staff and customers.
“Expanding our solar portfolio is just the beginning, we aim to continue contributing to a cleaner, greener Fiji.”
He said Rup Investments’ investment in solar energy delivered multiple benefits: lowering carbon emissions, reducing operational costs and setting a benchmark for environmental stewardship in Fiji’s corporate sector.
“By demonstrating that commercial solar energy is scalable and impactful, the company encourages other businesses to embrace renewable solutions and support Fiji’s sustainability commitments.”
Mr Rup said what it has accomplished using solar showed that private sector leadership can play a pivotal role in Fiji’s sustainable energy transition.
