Ethiopia has banned the importation of fuel-powered trucks beginning in October, APA can report over the weekend.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed disclosed the ban during the launching of a project on a refinery plant in Gode, Somali Regional State.
“Starting from October 3rd, just as we have done with automobiles, it is not permitted to import fuel-powered trucks,” Ahmed said.
The premier further said that about 2,000 buses operating in Addis Ababa and on inter-regional routes will be converted from fuel to gas this year.
The government first introduced a ban on gasoline and diesel-powered automobiles in 2024 under its Climate-Resilient Green Economy initiative, which targets carbon-neutral economic growth by 2030.
The policy has been accompanied by tax incentives for electric vehicles and investment in charging infrastructure.
“When these two thousand vehicles are converted, transport costs will decrease by at least 50 percent next year compared to the current price,” Ahmed said, adding that the measure will “greatly help the livelihoods of low-income citizens who commute for work in the city.”
Ethiopia generates more than 90 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily hydropower. Since the automobile ban, imports of electric vehicles have increased and local producers have begun assembling buses and passenger cars.
The extension of the policy to trucks is expected to affect the logistics sector, which relies heavily on diesel-powered vehicles for domestic and cross-border transport.
MG/as/APA