Ethiopian authorities are appealing to the public to reduce fuel usage as the country faces disruptions in petroleum imports from the Middle East.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged citizens to conserve fuel and prioritise essential services until supply chains return to normal. In a post on X on Monday, he emphasised that responsible consumption is crucial to prevent more severe shortages.
The prime minister also called on fuel distributors and users to ensure that limited resources are directed to critical sectors, highlighting the need for careful management to navigate the current constraints.
Fuel consumption in Ethiopia remains high. According to Bloomberg, the country used around 3.93 million metric tons or roughly 4.8 billion litres during the 2023–24 fiscal year. Aviation fuel alone represented nearly a quarter of the total, underscoring Ethiopia’s importance as a regional air transport hub.
To shield households and businesses from rising costs, the government has long maintained subsidised fuel prices. Finance Minister Ahmed Shide recently stated that significant foreign exchange reserves have been allocated to import fuel and stabilise domestic availability.
Procurement has been complicated by interruptions along key shipping routes, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz. In response, authorities have fast-tracked fuel purchases and started releasing reserves stored at 13 sites across the country.
Even before these recent disruptions, Ethiopia periodically experienced fuel shortages. Limited supply in recent years has contributed to growing interest in electric vehicles as alternatives to petrol and diesel.
At the same time, recurring shortages have encouraged the emergence of a parallel fuel market in some regions, where prices frequently surpass official government rates.
Officials say balancing supply while controlling informal trade remains a major challenge for the country’s energy sector.