The Ethiopian Ministry of Finance has officially announced the restoration of the country’s daily diesel supply to its full capacity of 9 million liters, effective immediately. This decision marks a return to supply levels seen before the recent escalations in the Middle East conflict, which had severely disrupted global energy markets.
Finance Minister Ahmed Shide disclosed that the daily diesel allocation had previously been slashed by 50%, dropping to just 4.5 million liters. This reduction was a strategic response to the surge in international oil prices and the logistical instabilities caused by regional tensions in the Middle East. The Minister noted that these external factors necessitated a temporary tightening of supply to manage the country's foreign exchange and energy reserves.
With the new directive, the logistics chain is already in motion. Minister Shide confirmed that the transportation of diesel from the Port of Djibouti to Addis Ababa begins today. Furthermore, the distribution network will extend to regional states starting tomorrow, ensuring that the increased supply reaches the agricultural, industrial, and transport sectors that rely heavily on diesel fuel.
While diesel supplies were previously restricted, the Minister reassured the public that the supply of gasoline (benzene) and jet fuel remained unaffected. Those fuel types continued to be imported and distributed at their full pre-existing volumes throughout the period of diesel rationing.
This restoration is expected to provide significant relief to Ethiopia’s transport sector, which has faced challenges due to the reduced availability of diesel. As the primary fuel for heavy-duty trucks and public transport vehicles, the increased volume is anticipated to stabilize logistics costs and improve the movement of goods along the vital Djibouti-Addis Ababa corridor. The Ministry of Finance continues to monitor global oil trends to ensure the country's energy security remains stable amidst ongoing international market volatility.
Source: Telegram / tikvahethiopia