Oil companies struggle to make upfront payments to the Ethiopian Petroleum Supply Enterprise (EPSE) following the shift in payment modalities accepted by the state-owned company.

For years, transactions in the petroleum industry were carried out using a credit-based payment scheme where bills are settled post-sale. The companies were required to provide unconditional payment guarantees from commercial banks for the fuel they received on credit. However, the Enterprise managers say mounting arrears pushed them to introduce a new payment modality. A few petroleum distributing companies, including Bilen, Genet and Erta Ale, have ceased operations due to failure to make payments.

The Enterprise has begun legal proceedings against these companies.

In late 2019, the Enterprise executives announced they would shift to upfront payment schemes, scheduled to last a year. In March last year, it became effective as oil companies were expected to pay cash upfront for 10pc of the fuel received and provide bank guarantees for the balance. The arrangement lasted three months, with the ratio changing to 25pc cash upfront in June 2021.

Over the past six months, oil companies have been paying upfront for half the petroleum they receive. A few weeks ago, the Enterprise stopped providing fuel on credit.

The Enterprise supplies 2.7 million litres of petroleum products a day on average.

Oil distributing companies find it challenging to find the cash to pay the Enterprise. An executive of Dalol Oil says the company had agreed to the payment scheme last year with the understanding that banks would avail loans and the Enterprise would provide support to make interest payments.

The Enterprise provides oil companies up to 0.4 Br a litre as financial compensation. The amount is included in the build-up for prices at pumping stations.

Accessing loans remains beyond reach for the fuel distributors.

"There's a misunderstanding with banks on collateral issues," Bruck Girma, general manager of Dalol Oil, told Fortune.

He observes that most oil companies do not have sufficient assets to hold as collateral against loans. Many own only a few pumping stations and depots where they store fuel. The complications have pushed Dalol to reconsider credit arrangements with 40 dealers under its band. It has been supplying fuel to dealers on credit and upfront payment schemes.

“It's becoming so hard on us that we're preparing to request all dealers to make cash payments,” said Bruck.

Among these dealers is Desalegn Abebayehu, who operates three stations under two brands – Dalol and OiLibya. He is also a board member of the Ethiopian Petroleum Dealers Association.

Desalegn financed the construction of the three stations in Sebeta and Alemgena; he might have easier access to loans using the properties as collateral. However, he contends that this is not the case for many of his peers.

“The worst can happen as no one sources the cash,” he said.

Building a gas station costs up to 15 million Br, with an additional five million Birr needed for equipment and furnishing.