Energy Ministry Seeks to Boost Biofuel Use


Energy Ministry Seeks to Boost Biofuel Use

The biofuel development and utilisation strategy was up for discussion between officials at the Ministry of Water & Energy and stakeholders last week. Gosaye Mengiste, energy sector advisor at the Ministry, opened the discussion by underlining Ethiopia's potential for biofuel development. He emphasised the country's focus on alternative energy sources to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and mitigate environmental challenges. Ethiopia has been blending five percent bioethanol with gasoline and successfully increased this blend to 10pc five years ago. Despite this progress, the limited supply of ethanol has hindered the full implementation of the blending target. The lack of a comprehensive national biomass policy and strategy has also posed challenges to biofuel development. However, countries like India, Brazil, and South Africa have demonstrated successful biofuel blending practices. The primary objectives of the new strategy include reducing fuel consumption and foreign exchange dependency, supporting rural development through livestock feed, facilitating transportation of agricultural products in rural areas, mitigating environmental pollution and indoor smoke emissions, and promoting clean cooking.

[ssba-buttons]

Radar

New Directive Hikes Service Fees for Foreign Investors in Free Trade Zones

The Ethiopian Investment Board has issued a new directive revising the service fees from foreign investors payable in dollars to the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), introducing updated rates for both the One Stop Shop and designated Free Trade Zones. The revised directive came into effect this April following its publication on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the EIC. Issued pursuant to Article 23 of the Special Economic Zone Proclamation, the directive outlines charges for...


Radar

City Tables 350B Br Budget Plan for Upcoming Fiscal Year

The City Administration has approved a resolution to submit a proposed budget of 350 billion Br for the 2025/26 fiscal year to the City Council for deliberation. According to the Administration's statement on its official social media page, the draft budget is designed with a central focus on poverty reduction, encompassing targeted subsidies for sustainable development, investment in large-scale job-creating projects, and enhanced service delivery to address the growing demands of the reside...


Radar

Ethiopia, UN Launch Joint Plan to Drive Development Through 2030

The Ethiopian government and the United Nations (UN) have signed a five-year development plan outlining national priorities from 2025 to 2030. Signed on June 20 at the Ministry of Finance, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) with implications that it aligns with Ethiopia's reform goals and the Sustainable Development Agenda. The plan is backed by a projected 6.5 billion dollars, though only 1.5 billion dollars is currently secured. It focuses on closing t...