Ethiopia announces plan to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure

Ethiopia is making a significant leap towards electric mobility by planning a robust EV charging network across the country. The government aims to install charging stations every 50-120 kilometers to support the growing number of electric vehicles. With over 100,000 EVs already on the road, they're targeting 500,000 vehicles in the next decade. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuel vehicles and modernize transportation infrastructure.

"We aim to increase EV numbers to 500,000 within the next decade" - Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Logistics

by IANS January 13, 2025 53 views

Addis Ababa, Jan 13: The Ethiopian government has unveiled plans to expand the country's electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, aiming to install charging stations every 50 to 120 km, according to an official from the Petroleum and Energy Authority of Ethiopia.

Key Points

1. Government approves directive for comprehensive EV charging infrastructure

2. Over 100,000 electric vehicles currently on Ethiopian roads

3. Targeting 500,000 EVs within ten years

4. Supports national transition away from fossil fuel vehicles

A directive outlining the regulatory framework for EV charging systems has been approved, Bahru Oljra, executive director of energy sector control at the authority, told the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation on Friday.

Oljra noted that the directive addresses licensing for charging stations, service tariffs, power supply standards, and security measures. He said that EV charging options remain limited, with most owners relying on home-based charging or privately-run charging stations, Xinhua news agency reported.

Ethiopia has seen a surge in EV adoption, necessitating a robust charging network to support long-distance travel and reduce range anxiety for EV owners.

According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Logistics, over 100,000 EVs are currently on the road, and the government aims to increase this number to 500,000 within the next decade, replacing 95 per cent of fuel-powered vehicles.

To accelerate the shift to electric mobility, the Ethiopian government imposed a ban on the import of gasoline and diesel vehicles early last year amid a global surge in fuel prices.

Apart from this, the Ethiopian government has announced that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has reached 97.6 per cent completion.

Marking the dam's near-completion, the government has launched a fundraising campaign, urging financial institutions and the public to step up their support to the project, according to a statement issued Saturday by the Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy.

Aregawi Berhe, director general of the GERD project public participation coordination office, emphasised during a resource mobilisation event that the GERD, Africa's largest hydroelectric dam, has achieved significant progress. He called for intensified fundraising efforts and greater citizen involvement to ensure the project's timely and smooth completion.

Ethiopia's State Minister of Water and Energy Sultan Wali praised the "unwavering support" of Ethiopians at home and abroad throughout the dam's construction. He stressed the importance of sustaining this support as the project nears its final stages.

Financed entirely through domestic resources, the GERD is seen as a symbol of Ethiopia's renaissance. Since its construction began in 2011, Ethiopians have supported the project through various means, including bond sales, athletic events, and lottery draws.

Located in the northwestern Benishangul-Gumuz region on the Blue Nile River, the GERD was initially designed to generate 6,500 megawatts of electricity, later revised to 5,150 megawatts.

However, the project has been a point of contention among Nile Basin countries. While Ethiopia views the dam as essential to its development goals and middle-income aspirations, Egypt and Sudan have voiced concerns about its potential impact on their water shares.