By Femi Akinola
The Ethiopian government led by the Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has banned all diplomatic missions and internationl organisations in the country from importing petrol and diesel cars into Ethiopia.
This comes as the government earlier announced a total ban on the import of fossil-fuelled cars in January. However, foreign missions, regional and international organisations in the country still import the banned cars into the country.
Checks by NatureNews revealed that world leading bodies as the European Union (EU); only announced gradual transition from fossil-fuelled cars by givong car manufacturers a 10 year plan to stop producing fossil-fuelled vehicles.
But a statement released by Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, noted that the move was part of Ethiopia’s broader strategy to transition to clean energy and promote environmental sustainability.
Part of the statement reads: ”The Ministry wishes to inform all diplomatic and consular missions, regional and international orgnisations in Addis-Ababa that in height of pressing challenges posed by climate change and Ethiopia’s commitment to contribute to emission reduction and transition to renewable energy, the importation of vehicles using fuels (petrol and diesel) for internal combustion engine is prohibited.
”All those with diplomatic privileges are required to importing only electric vehiclesd as per the direction enforced for duty-free importation of vehicles.
Ethiopia’s rapid shift to electric vehicles is being driven by both economic and environmental factors, government officials noted. With around 100,000 Electric Vehicles (EVs) currently in the country and a projected increase by 2032, the government’s ban on the import of gas-powered passenger vehicles is regarded as a significant policy move by the government.
The ban, regarded as the first of its kind in the world, aims to reduce the financial burden of importing fuel and capitlise on the country’s reliance on hydropower, which provides 96% of its electricity.
In the view of the Ethiopian authorities, the ban is a strategy designed to streghtened the economy while promoting environmental sustainability, as the government argued in January when it first announced total ban on fossil-fuelled vehicles and start restricting imports.
To sustain the ban on fossil fuel in the country, Ethiopia has tapped into its hydroelectric resources, including the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (GERD) project on Rive Nile and several other rivers in the country, to boost its electricity profile. The country has strted generating electricity from a section of the dam that is still under construction.
The thinking in the government circle in Ethiopia is that a full-throttle approach to such a ban could now force other governments to consider making the switch, especially as their missions in Ethiopia will only be allowed to use electric vehicles in the country.
Also, it was envisaged that the ban on fossil fuelled vehicles in the country will force car dealers, as well as regional and international organisations in the country, to rush to sell their stock cheaply abroad.
NatureNews can report that Ethiopian government’s push for electric vehicles stems from a recognition of the country’s abundant renewable energy sources.
However, there are hurdles to cross by the Ethiopian government to ensure there is constant electricity to regularly charge hundreds of thousands vehicles that will serve over 110 population.
That aside, the Ethiopian government need to provide electricity to majority of the population as report has it that as of now, only about 40% of the country’s over 110 million population have access to electricity.
In the mean time, the unregulated ban of petrol and diesel fuelled vehicles in Ethiopia simply means the Abiy Ahmed led government must now work harder to provide efficient charging stations beyond the few ones available in the capital, Addis Ababa, and ensure more Ethiopians have easy access to electricity.
