Ethiopia has completed its first trial shipment of diesel by rail, transporting 120,000 litres in a move officials say could transform fuel logistics in the country. The pilot run was carried out on the Ethio-Djibouti railway line, marking a shift away from the long-standing reliance on road transport, as reported by Business Insider Africa.
The trial was coordinated by the Ethio-Djibouti Railway Joint Stock Company in collaboration with Ethiopia’s National Oil Company, following government directives to reduce fuel transportation costs and ease pressure on road infrastructure. Authorities involved in the exercise said the rail option could improve efficiency and strengthen supply chain reliability, the report noted.
Ethiopia currently depends almost entirely on tanker trucks to move imported petroleum products from Djibouti, a system that is costly and vulnerable to delays. By validating safety and operational standards through the trial, officials aim to expand rail-based fuel transport to include petrol, aviation fuel and other products, based on details shared by the railway operator.
Analysts say shifting fuel logistics to rail could significantly cut transport expenses and support broader economic reforms by stabilizing fuel supply. The government views the pilot as part of a wider effort to modernize freight transport and maximize the use of existing rail infrastructure, Business Insider Africa said.
