
Fortune News | Jan 29,2022
All diesel and gasoline vehicles will be barred from operating without an official emissions certificate or approved emission-reduction technology in two months, according to the Ministry of Transport & Logistics.
The directive was issued in March, after it was signed by Alemu Semie (PhD), minister of Transport & Logistics. The Ministry set a six-month transition period for vehicle owners to test emissions and obtain certificates, with only two months remaining before enforcement begins.
“When the directive completes six months, no car will move without a certificate or emission curbing technology,” warned Assefa Addis, transport service and supervision advisor at the Ministry.
The rules apply to all vehicles that are subject to annual inspections, as well as to vehicle assemblers, manufacturers, importers, and owners. The standard applies to both new and used cars, whether imported or assembled domestically. The Ministry or authorised regional and city transport bureaus will handle technical inspections and enforcement.
“It’s a game-changing eco-technology.” Bekele Mamo Technical Director TBK Trading Plc
“Vehicle importers, assemblers, and manufacturers should ensure that all new or used vehicles comply with the emission standards,” Assefa said.
Owners are required to have their cars inspected annually for emissions, maintain them to meet the standards, use fuel from licensed stations, and carry proof of compliance.
Service fees will be set by future regulations issued by the Council of Ministers.
Vehicles that fail inspections will be given 15 days to make the necessary repairs and present the required documentation. Failure to comply will result in a 15-day suspension from operation, followed by a three-month suspension for continued violations. Persistent non-compliance may lead to permanent suspension.
Transport officials frame the policy as an environmental and public-health step with legal backing. They argue that the directive supports the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“This is not only about environmental protection,” Assefa said. “It’s also about sustainable economic growth, public health, and the country’s role in the global climate effort.”
Ethiopia is home to approximately 1.5 million vehicles, including 200,000 under federal and regional states, and already has 100,000 electric cars on its roads, according to official data. Road transport accounts for 20pc of emissions in the transport sector.
Private-sector involvement is growing alongside the policy.
TBK Trading Plc became the country’s first licensed importer of “Fuel Saving Devices” compliant with the directive. TBK advertises GreenTech as a device that can be installed inside a fuel tank without altering a vehicle’s structure. The company claims the device absorbs heat from the surrounding air and releases it at a specific wavelength, breaking down larger fuel molecules into smaller ones.
Bekele Mamo, co-founder and technical director, introduced GreenTech, a device his company claims can cut exhaust emissions by up to 97pc while reducing fuel consumption by as much as 30pc.
The company, along with others seeking permits, should meet the Ministry’s technical standards.
“It’s a game-changing eco-technology,” Bekele said.
TBK says it spent more than three years bringing the product to market and sources it from the Taiwan-based nanotechnology firm Molotech Group. The device has a 10-year lifespan before expiry. Prices range from 15,000 Br to 50,000 Br, depending on a vehicle’s fuel tank capacity, with a price of 29,000 Br for a 200Ltrs tank.
Public reaction is a mix of support and concern over costs and readiness.
Hailemariam Chekol, a 41-year-old meter taxi driver, backs efforts to reduce emissions but doubts the country’s preparedness for strict enforcement. He worries about expenses, especially after paying 40,000 Br in revenue taxes this year amid rising fuel prices.
“The directive is good for the environment,” he told Fortune, “but it shouldn’t become an extra burden for the public.”
Early adopters include Awash Insurance, Oromia Construction, Ethiopian Electric Power, the Federal Police, Sheger and Anbesa buses. The Transport Ministry continues to encourage broader uptake. According to State Minister Bereo Hassan, the need is to remove older and high-emission vehicles from the roads while taking into account the sector’s economic realities.
Industry practitioners warn that the task is complex and resource-intensive. Mikiyas Aweke, a private transportation consultant, blamed a lack of spare parts, foreign-currency shortages, and tax burdens as major barriers to compliance.
“There is no way to cut emissions until you replace the worn-out part,” he said. “Newer cars can sometimes emit more than older ones if maintenance is neglected.”
As the two-month countdown to full enforcement continues, officials face a dual test of advancing environmental goals and public health while ensuring that economic and technical realities do not stall progress.
PUBLISHED ON
Aug 09,2025 [ VOL
26 , NO
1319]
Fortune News | Jan 29,2022
Fortune News | Aug 05,2023
Money Market Watch | Dec 08,2024
Commentaries | Feb 09,2019
Fortune News | Jul 30,2022
Fineline | Jan 19,2019
Fortune News | Jul 27,2019
Radar | Oct 31,2022
Fortune News | Feb 08,2020
Fortune News | Oct 23,2021
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
Aug 23 , 2025
Banks have a new obsession. After decades chasing deposits and, more recently, digita...
Aug 16 , 2025
A decade ago, a case in the United States (US) jolted Wall Street. An ambulance opera...
Aug 9 , 2025
In the 14th Century, the Egyptian scholar Ibn Khaldun drew a neat curve in the sand....
Aug 2 , 2025
At daybreak on Thursday last week, July 31, 2025, hundreds of thousands of Ethiop...