Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Kassahun Gofe, stated that the government has announced a set of decisions and adopted various measures aimed at addressing challenges in fuel shortages caused by the war in the Middle East and the global crisis.
The Minister noted that the crisis has disrupted Ethiopia’s long-term fuel supply agreements and sharply reduced imports, with over 180,000 metric tons of fuel failing to arrive. Daily diesel supply has dropped by more than half, while global prices have surged, forcing the government to procure fuel at nearly triple previous costs.
Despite rising prices, the government continues to subsidize fuel—95 birr per liter for diesel and 42 birr for gasoline—spending approximately 262 billion birr to date, with monthly allocations reaching 20 billion birr.
To manage the shortage, an immediate fuel prioritization system has been introduced.
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Priority is given to transporters, key exporters, critical infrastructure projects, agricultural machinery, and public transport services. Additionally, a national monitoring task force has been established to oversee distribution. Enforcement actions have already led to the arrest of 658 individuals and the seizure of over 720,000 liters of illegally diverted fuel.
The government urges the public to conserve energy, limit unnecessary travel, and report illicit trade as part of a collective effort to navigate this crisis.
