The House of People’s Representatives, in its 14th regular session, approved a new proclamation to regulate the petroleum trading system. The legislation was passed with a majority vote, two votes against, and one abstention.
The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Trade and Tourism Affairs, Aisha Yahya, explained that the new law mandates uninterrupted fuel sales at gas stations as long as fuel is available. Additionally, it requires all vehicles transporting petroleum products to be equipped with GPS tracking to monitor their journeys and prevent illegal activities.
Aisha highlighted that the proclamation aims to align the supply, storage, distribution, and security of petroleum products with international standards. It seeks to ensure a fair, efficient, and accessible supply chain from importers to consumers while addressing challenges such as illegal trading.
Ms. Saharla Abdullahi, Director General of the Petroleum and Energy Authority, emphasized the need for stricter laws to combat widespread illegal practices in the petroleum sector. She noted that one key issue addressed by the proclamation is the failure of fuel stations to adhere to government-set tariffs. The new law aims to close these gaps, which were not adequately addressed under the previous Proclamation 838/2006.
Source: The Ethiopian Herald
