Companies with the privilege to buy fuel directly and in bulk from oil distributors will face a break soon, with the authorities tightening up the noose on their privileges.

The Petroleum & Energy Authority had granted institutions and companies direct access to buy over 46,000lt fuel. The Authority was renamed from the Petroleum & Petroleum Products Supply & Distribution Regulatory Authority and placed under the Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration (MTRI) oversight.

No less than 270 institutions were allowed to buy from one of the 38 oil companies. Combined, they buy over 17 million litres every month. It accounts for a little less than five percent of the fuel distributed across the country. With a fleet size of 750 buses and daily fuel consumption of 30,000lt, Anbessa City Bus Enterprise is one of the companies allowed to buy fuel directly from the oil companies.

However, there were no mechanisms to verify whether the buyers used the fuel for the intended purpose. Officials fear rampant contraband trade in the petroleum distribution access granted to these organizations. The Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration (MTRI) wants to check on the privileged organizations with a directive to control the distribution and use to fuel.

“The aim is to prevent the privilege from being abused,” said Lemessa Tulu, director of fuel distribution at the Authority.

In the coming weeks, the directive is expected to be approved by Gebremeskel Chala, minister for Trade & Regional Integration.

The institutions will be obliged to submit monthly reports on their fuel use and own depots where they store the fuel. Under the supervision of Ahmed Tusa, the Authority takes administrative measures for non-compliance. Penalties may include permit revocations. Ahmed once had served as a state minister for Trade before moving to head the state-owned Ethiopian Shipping & Logistics Services Enterprise and subsequently the Oromia Revenues & Customs Authority.

Last year, the state-run Ethiopian Petroleum Supply Enterprise (EPSE) imported 3.2 million tonnes of petroleum products for 72 billion Br. The oil companies buy them from the Enterprise after shipments reach Djibouti and dispatch them to over 1,300 gas stations in the country.

The Addis Abeba Transport Bureau covers the fuel expenses of Anbessa Bus and Sheger Bus, the latter with a fleet of 425, including 100 school buses. Anbessa, one of the oldest public companies in Ethiopia, serves an estimated 650,000 commuters daily. The Bureau spends 1.5 million Br to cover its monthly fuel expenses.

Fuel use by the Enterprise is prone to theft and mismanagement, concedes Adem Seid, director of procurement and finance.