Ethiopia allocated roughly $6 billion to import fossil fuels last year. More than half of that amount was spent on fueling vehicles, as stated by OEC. In response, Ethiopia’s Transport and Logistics Ministries have announced that only electric vehicles will be permitted to enter the country.
While many other nations have declared plans to phase out the sale of combustion engine cars in the next decade, Ethiopia is aiming to ban internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles now.
Planned phase-out of ICE cars, by nation
The Minister for Transport and Logistics, Alemu Sime, announced the completion of the nation’s Logistics Master Plan and declared that only electric automobiles will be allowed into Ethiopia. Additionally, he emphasized the country’s initiatives for “Green Transport” and the establishment of charging stations for electric cars.
Electrek’s Take
This decision by Ethiopia has sparked various discussions within the Electrek group chat. While some believe that Ethiopia may not have the necessary charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, others argue that the move is essential, especially for a country facing challenges with gasoline imports. With Ethiopia, proud of its independence and resistance to colonial takeover, this decision could position the country as a leader in Africa.
As we await the outcome of this decision, we encourage our readers to continue the conversation in the comments section.
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