Ethiopia is set to place a ban on the importation of fuel and diesel cars. The Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics, Alemu Sime in a statement in Addis Ababa on Tuesday announced that the government has already decided to let only electric vehicles into the country, thus placing a ban on gasoline and diesel-powered cars.
Ethiopia to Ban Fuel and Diesel Cars
The Ethiopian Transport and Logistics Minister, Alemu Sime, made a groundbreaking announcement, revealing Ethiopia’s commitment to a sustainable future by embracing electric vehicles (EVs) and banning the import of fuel and diesel cars. This declaration was made during a session with the Urban Development and Transport Standing Committee of the Ethiopian Parliament, where Sime also introduced the Logistics Master Plan aimed at transforming Ethiopia into a hub for green transportation.
The country is setting its sights on reducing its reliance on fossil fuels by enforcing rigorous smoke tests for cars. Vehicles that fail to meet the required standards will be prohibited from operating on Ethiopian roads. In an effort to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles, Ethiopia is actively working on establishing a network of charging stations and is offering tax incentives for EV purchases.
The Reason for This Step
This bold step is motivated by Ethiopia’s significant expenditure on petrol and diesel imports, which amounted to €6 billion ($7.6 billion) in 2023, along with the urgent need to tackle the high pollution levels in urban areas caused by traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
The move is part of Ethiopia’s ambitious environmental strategy for the coming decade, aiming to introduce over 152,000 electric cars by 2030, despite currently having only around 7,200 EVs among the 1.2 million vehicles on its roads.
The Reparations of This Development
However, this initiative raises several critical questions, including the timeline for the ban’s implementation and the fate of existing fossil-fuel vehicles. A major concern is the affordability of electric vehicles for the average Ethiopian, considering the high rates of multidimensional poverty, with 68.7% of the population, or 82.6 million people, affected, and an additional 18.4%, or approximately 22.1 million people, at risk.
Ethiopia’s Commitment to Electric Vehicles
Ethiopia’s commitment to electric vehicles underscores a significant shift towards sustainable transport solutions, yet it also highlights the challenges of ensuring accessibility and affordability for its citizens amidst striving for environmental goals.
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