Ethiopia Launches Natural Gas-Powered Buses in Addis Ababa

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has officially launched public transport buses in Addis Ababa powered by domestically produced natural gas. Sourced from Gode in the Somali Region, the initiative has already retrofitted 256 former Anbessa diesel buses to operate on gas. This shift is expected to reduce public transport operating costs by at least 50%, aiming to alleviate financial burdens on low-income citizens.

In addition to the retrofitted fleet, the government has ordered 400 new gas-powered buses and 100 gas-powered trucks, which are expected to arrive within three months. The initiative aims to reduce Ethiopia's dependence on imported petroleum, lower urban carbon emissions, and strengthen the country’s domestic industrial capacity and energy resilience.