Digital Fuel Transactions Soar Amid Subsidy Drop

Feb 17 , 2024


Nationwide digital fuel transactions have exceeded the 155.4 billion Br mark, as the Ethiopian Petroleum & Energy Authority released a half-year report last week. Consistent reductions in fuel subsidies have led to the fuel price stabilisation fund hitting an all-time low of 117.4 billion Br, a decrease of 79.6 billion compared to the previous year. The report highlights the successful monitoring of subsidies across the country's 1,589 fuel stations, benefiting nearly 200,000 transporters over the past four months. The proper oversight of subsidies has contributed to the substantial reduction in the fuel price stabilisation fund. Last month, the Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration decreased the number of public transporters eligible for fuel subsidies. The gradual removal of subsidies has been underway since last year, with the Council of Ministers announcing a phased-out process for all beneficiaries through periodic revisions. The report indicates a significant shift in the fuel subsidy landscape, signalling ongoing efforts to align fuel prices with market dynamics and reduce government financial burdens in this sector.


Radar

Yirgalem Hospital Inaugurates New Oxygen Production Plant

A new oxygen production plant has been inaugurated at Yirgalem Hospital Medical College in Sidama Regional State. The launch was attended by the regional state's chief administrator Desta Ledamo and Health Minister Mekdes Daba (PhD). Desta noted that a new kidney dialysis centre will soon be opened as well. Mekdes stated that the Ministry is working to increase the number of oxygen production facilities from the current 10 to 34 nationwide. The Yirgalem plant cost 86 million Br to build and h...


Radar

Corridor Develops with Parking, Recklessness Concerns, Research Finds

Research involving 400 respondents across four first-round corridor development routes revealed major challenges to the initiative. The study, conducted by Shaka Analytics and ETC Institute in collaboration with the Addis Abeba City Transport Bureau, examined the impact of the program on transportation patterns, transit accessibility, and parking availability. The routes—Arat Kilo to Bole Deldey, Embassy of England to Arat Kilo, Mexico roundabout to Wello Sefer, and Piassa to Arat Kilo—we...


Radar

Digitalisation Spreads to the Court System

Ethio telecom and the Amhara Regional State Supreme Court have agreed to implement a Smart Court project in Bahir Dar to modernize court operations using digital technology. This agreement includes building a modern network infrastructure, implementing cloud services, creating a modular data centre, establishing a network operations control centre, and connecting the region's courts with a secure digital network. The project is designed to facilitate secure digital information exchange betwee...