$100m Project Mulls Public Transportation Make-Over


$100m Project Mulls Public Transportation Make-Over

A 100-million-dollar project aims to manufacture over 5,000 diesel-powered and electric public transport vehicles for the capital. The proposed project was launched hoping to replace the ageing vehicles and improve safety, efficiency and quality across the city's urban transport system. Last week saw an MoU inked between executives of Multiverse Enterprise Plc and Addis Abeba Minibus Associations and was held at Vamdas Entertainment near Megenagna. The agreement includes plans to replace 15,000 minibuses with electric and fuel-powered vehicles within the next five years. According to executives, the Enterprise has secured enough foreign currency to import parts from King Long, a Chinese manufacturer, to be locally assembled by the Defense Engineering Industry Corporation (DEIC).   Recently, public transporters have been in the cross-hairs following transport authorities' order to undergo a transition from associations to commercial entities. The government feels strongly of the need to modernise the city's taxi feet to improve quality and efficiency while association members have voiced infrastructural and financial constraints.


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Authority Enacts EV Charging Stations Directive

A new directive setting technical standards, licensing requirements, and safety measures for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations has been approved. Created by the Petroleum & Energy Authority (PEA), it aims to ensure the quality of energy supply and the safety of charging stations and accelerate the adoption of EVs. The directive outlines service provision regulations, including technical and safety standards as well as electricity tariff criteria. It divides public charging stations...


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Fuel Prices Surge Following Subsidy Withdrawal

The Council of Ministers has authorised monthly reviews and adjustments to retail fuel prices, leading to a price hike on January 7. The increase affects gasoline, kerosene, white diesel, light black diesel, heavy black diesel, and jet fuel. Gasoline prices rose by 11.3pc to 101.47 Br a litre. White diesel and kerosene prices increased by 9.6pc, while light black diesel now costs 108.30 Br a litre, and heavy black diesel is priced at 105.97 Br. Long queues at fuel stations persisted until...


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Wegagen Bank Expands into Diaspora Real Estate Market

Wegagen Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Deluxe Properties to support diaspora communities in purchasing homes. The agreement was signed at Wegagen Bank's headquarters last week. Under the MoU, Wegagen Bank will provide financing to diaspora buyers of Deluxe Properties' homes. The bank offers loans covering up to 80pc of the property's cost, with repayment terms spread over 25 years. The Bank stated the initiative supports the National Bank of Ethiopia's (NBE) missi...