Ethiopia: Central Bank Nods to Fuel Imports By Foreign Investors, Embassies, International Orgs
The National Bank of Ethiopia has opened a new lane for a specific group of fuel buyers. Regulators at the central bank are now allowing diplomatic missions, foreign investors, and international organizations to import fuel directly for their own use, without going through the Ethiopian Petroleum Supply Enterprise.
This means embassies, foreign-owned businesses, and international bodies operating in the country no longer have to rely on the state-run EPSE to meet their fuel needs. The move essentially carves out a separate import channel for these groups, keeping their supply independent from the national distribution system.
Details on the full scope of the policy, including any volume limits or additional conditions attached to the approval, have not yet been made public. What happens next for local fuel access and pricing is the question worth watching.
Originally published by AllAfrica.