ADDIS ABABA– The government is dedicated to promoting electric transportation through tax incentives for fully assembled vehicles, domestically assembled vehicles, and charging machines, Ministry of Transport and Logistics said.
Transport and Logistics State Minister Bareo Hassen told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the government is committed to implementing electric based transportation, with tax inducement for fully assembled vehicles, domestically assembled vehicles, and charging machines.
The strategy encourages mass transportation and efforts are underway to use electric buses in large numbers, while 100 electric buses are being assembled at home. The ministry is working with Ethiopian Electric Power, Ethiopia Petroleum Authority, and gas stations to accommodate electric charging infrastructure, State Minister stated.
Efforts are being made to revise laws hindering private transport investment through discussions with the Ethiopian Investment Commission. “We are working to create operators for electric buses to increase supply,” he said.
In relation to energy supply, the ministry in collaboration with Ethiopian Electric Power, Ethiopia Petroleum Authority to enable Gas stations to accommodate electric charging infrastructure as machines are under installation, he stated.
One of the projects, that has been given due attention under the infrastructural development works in Addis Ababa, according to Bareo, is the extensive construction of the walk lanes and bikeways.
“We have a document that contains findings about the sector’s problems and recommendations on how they can be resolved and it will be presented to the macro team,” he indicated.
In Ethiopia there are many old cars that hugely pollute the environment. Therefore, implementing a non-motorized transportation strategy and using electric vehicles is vital to resolve the problem, the State Minister said.
The government, including the Prime Minister, has given great attention and extensive support to the implementation of electric vehicles, he mentioned, adding that this support has encouraged the presence of more than 15 joint ventures and organizations.
Some of the world’s largest companies, such as BYD, have already begun operation here and some have shown their interest. Ethiopia will have more than 432,000 electric vehicles in 10 years, according to Bareo.
BY ESSYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 9 JANUARY 2025
