Ethiopia has intensified its climate-focused transport reforms by extending its ban on fuel-powered vehicles to include diesel and gas trucks.
The move represents a tougher stance on fuel dependency as the government tightens import restrictions on diesel and gasoline trucks to curb emissions and promote cleaner transportation alternatives.
The latest regulations will blacklist certain truck models as part of Ethiopia’s broader initiative to transition toward sustainable mobility and address growing environmental concerns.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) announced the decision on October 3, 2025, during the inauguration of a new refinery and fertilizer plants in Gode, Somali Regional State.
The announcement marks another milestone in the country’s transition to green energy.
It follows the government’s 2024 ban on gasoline and diesel-powered automobiles under the Climate-Resilient Green Economy initiative, which aims to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles nationwide.
“Starting from today, just as we have done with automobiles, it is not permitted to import fuel-powered trucks,” Abiy declared, underscoring Ethiopia’s deepening commitment to renewable energy and electric mobility.
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The ban is a key component of Ethiopia’s Climate-Resilient Green Economy initiative, which seeks to achieve carbon-neutral economic growth by 2030, according to PUNCH.
Ethiopia bans imports of all fuel-powered trucks. With over 90 percent of its electricity generated from renewable sources, primarily hydropower, the government views electrification as both an environmental and economic strategy.
Incentives such as tax breaks for electric vehicles and heavy investment in charging infrastructure have fueled a sharp rise in EV imports and encouraged local assembly of electric passenger cars and buses.
Extending the policy to include trucks represents a more ambitious step, especially given the logistics sector’s dependence on diesel.
Still, the government insists the shift is vital to cutting emissions and reducing reliance on costly fuel imports.
Ethiopia’s latest move Nigeria’s Dangote, Ethiopia To Build $2.5 Billion Fertiliser Plant aligns with a growing trend across Africa, where several countries are embracing electric mobility as a driver of sustainable growth.
South Africa has attracted major investments in EV assembly plants, while Rwanda and Kenya have introduced incentives to promote electric motorcycle use.
Nigeria, too, has rolled out policies to support local EV production.
Despite persistent infrastructure challenges, Africa’s expanding renewable energy base, especially hydropower and solar, gives the continent a strong advantage in pursuing an electric future.
With its vast hydropower capacity, Ethiopia is positioning itself as one of the continent’s leading advocates of this transition.
The extension of the fuel vehicle ban to trucks will have immediate economic effects within Ethiopia and across its borders.
Diesel-powered trucks currently dominate trade routes in the Horn of Africa, serving as essential channels for imports and exports.
Restrictions on truck imports could temporarily disrupt logistics operations, raise transportation costs, and pressure operators to adapt.
However, experts note that the policy may also accelerate investment in electric freight transport.
If effectively implemented, Ethiopia could emerge as a regional model for decarbonizing heavy transport, a sector that has long posed challenges for global climate action.
By leveraging its renewable energy capacity and enacting bold environmental policies, Ethiopia is signaling its determination not just to participate in Africa’s green transition, but to lead it.
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