Saturday, Oct 31, 2026 {HMC}Â Further reports released by state media this evening provide details on how natural gas will be utilized during its first phase. Its application will not be limited to public buses; it will also extend to the industrial sector.
Within three months, 400 public buses powered by natural gas will begin operating in Addis Ababa. This will mean that 34% of the transport demand in Addis Ababa will be met using natural gas. Furthermore, to help curb inflation, there are plans to convert a large number of other vehicles to run on natural gas.
Beyond this, cement manufacturing plants—such as those in Debre Birhan (Amhara Region) and Mojo (Oromia Region)—will also transition to using natural gas, which will significantly reduce existing operational costs.
Additionally, freight vehicles serving the industrial and construction sectors will be converted to run on natural gas.
These initiatives are expected to eliminate the need for imported fuel, allowing Ethiopia to save the foreign currency (dollars) that was previously spent on such imports.
As noted in the report, the second phase of the project in Godey will focus on the production of fertilizers and the generation of electricity. This means that the region’s resources will determine the flow of commerce in the capital, Addis Ababa. Furthermore, many industries will depend on the region’s output. If the Somalis grasp this, it represents a significant piece of leverage that they could use to secure many of their rights.
