The Ethiopian Electricity Utility (EEU) is grappling with a surge in crimes targeting its infrastructure, with recent figures revealing a troubling lack of accountability. Of the 104 reported crimes against the utility’s electricity infrastructure in Addis Ababa and Sheger City during the 2024/25 fiscal year, only 12 cases have received legal rulings, according to data shared at a recent high-level consultation forum.

The forum, which brought together the EEU, the Federal Attorney General, the Federal Police, and senior leaders from security and judicial institutions, focused on developing strategies to safeguard the utility’s assets, combat energy theft, and ensure accountability for property-related crimes.

Gebeyehu Likasa, CEO Representative and Executive Officer for Electric Infrastructure Administration at EEU, highlighted the alarming rise in such crimes, noting that the trend is accelerating at an “exponential rate.” He stressed that these offenses not only undermine EEU’s ongoing efforts to expand reliable electricity access but also threaten public safety and impede national development.

“The growing number of crimes against our infrastructure poses a major obstacle to our mission and to the country’s progress,” Gebeyehu said. He called on security and judicial authorities to intensify their efforts in both preventing these crimes and ensuring that perpetrators are appropriately punished.

Abebe Tesfa, Executive Officer for Legal Services and Ethics at EEU, pointed out that both internal and external actors are involved in these criminal activities. He emphasized the need for coordinated action among stakeholders to curb the problem.

A representative from the EEU Legal Directorate identified delayed decisions on cases and inadequate penalties for offenders as key factors contributing to the persistence of these crimes. Reviewing recent data, he explained that in 2022/23, only 20 out of 96 reported offenses were resolved, while the current fiscal year saw just 12 out of 104 cases concluded.

Justice and security officials participating in the forum acknowledged the need for improved monitoring by the EEU to facilitate timely action on reported crimes. They also recommended that the utility invest in advanced technologies to better protect its infrastructure.

As the EEU continues its efforts to provide electricity to all corners of the country, the institution faces the dual challenge of expanding access while safeguarding its assets from criminal threats. Stakeholders agree that a more robust, coordinated response is urgently needed to address the growing wave of infrastructure-related crimes.

The 7th Agrofood & PlastprintPck Trade Fair was held from June 19 to 21, 2025, at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa. Marking a milestone, this year’s event featured the inaugural Food Show and Coffee Show, drawing 156 leading exhibitors from 16 countries to present tailored products and innovative solutions for the local market.

The event, organized by Fairtrade Messe in partnership with local firm Prana Events, highlighted the host nation’s expanding role as the largest food market in East and Central Africa. According to the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), agriculture contributes 76% of the country’s annual exports and has maintained a robust 9% annual growth rate, reaching an estimated $36 billion in value.

With a population of approximately 130 million expected to grow to 200 million by 2050, demand for food and beverage products continues to rise steadily. The food and beverage sector accounts for the largest share of the country’s manufacturing industry, fueling increased demand for ingredients and processing technologies.

Trade data reveals that between 2021 and 2023, food imports ranged from $1.9 billion to $3.3 billion, while food exports reached $2.5 billion in 2023, underscoring growing integration into global food markets.

The plastics industry also featured prominently at the expo, reflecting rapid growth in plastic consumption—from 44 kilotons in 2007 to 281 kilotons in 2024, at an average annual growth rate of 11.5%. As the second-largest importer of plastic products in East and Central Africa, the country relies entirely on imports for its plastic raw materials, which increased from 43 kilotons in 2007 to 294 kilotons in 2024, growing 12% year-on-year.

Ethiopia leads the region in plastic technology investment, with imports valued at EUR 28 million in 2023—a 57% increase compared to 2022—demonstrating strong commitment to modernizing its plastics sector.

The 2025 Agrofood & PlastprintPck Expo brought together exhibitors from Austria, Brazil, China, Denmark, Djibouti, Germany, India, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. The diverse participation underscored the event’s role as a pivotal platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and business development in the food and plastics industries.

Ethiopia and its Sub-Saharan African neighbors are making notable progress in their energy transitions, according to the recently released “Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2025” report by the World Economic Forum. The report, published in June 2025, highlights both the achievements and persistent challenges facing the region as it seeks to build more resilient, sustainable, and equitable energy systems.

The Energy Transition Index (ETI), which benchmarks 118 countries on their progress toward secure, affordable, and sustainable energy, shows that Sub-Saharan Africa has seen improvements, particularly in regulatory reforms and policy commitment. The report notes, “Sub-Saharan Africa improved most in regulation and policy,” reflecting a growing political will to address energy access and sustainability.

However, the region’s transition remains uneven and faces significant systemic constraints. “Systemic constraints – from limited institutional capacity to financing and infrastructure barriers – continued to hamper progress, especially in low-income economies with fast-growing demand and constrained capital access,” the report states. Ethiopia, like many of its neighbors, is grappling with these challenges as it seeks to expand energy access and integrate more clean energy sources into its grid.

The report underscores the importance of adaptive, locally tailored solutions for scaling clean energy while maintaining resilience and affordability. It highlights that, while clean energy investment globally surpassed $2 trillion in 2024, developing economies such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa still struggle to attract adequate capital. Financing costs in these markets remain up to seven times higher than in advanced economies, exacerbating a $2.2 trillion annual investment gap for clean energy worldwide.

Despite these hurdles, the momentum for energy transition in Ethiopia and the region is growing. The report calls attention to Nigeria’s significant improvement in the ETI rankings, moving from 109th in 2016 to 61st in 2025, largely due to increased financial investment and infrastructure development. This progress offers a model for other countries in the region, including Ethiopia, to follow.

The 2025 ETI also emphasizes the need for stable, adaptive policy frameworks, modernization of energy infrastructure, investment in skilled talent, acceleration of clean technology commercialization, and enhanced capital investment in developing economies. These priorities are seen as essential for building resilience and ensuring the long-term success of energy transitions in countries like Ethiopia.

As the global energy landscape becomes more complex due to climate, technological, and geopolitical pressures, Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa are urged to align ambition with action. The report concludes, “There is growing progress towards a secure, equitable and sustainable energy system, but momentum could stall amid financing and geopolitical challenges.” For Ethiopia and its regional peers, the path forward will require not only innovation and investment but also strong policy leadership and international cooperation to overcome persistent barriers and realize the promise of a sustainable energy future.

Ethiopia’s decision to phase out fuel subsidies has sparked widespread concern among lawmakers and industry stakeholders, as reports of empty filling stations and supply bottlenecks mount across the country. The issue took center stage during a recent session of the House of People’s Representatives, where members questioned the government’s approach and warned of potential economic fallout if underlying problems in the fuel supply chain are not addressed.

The Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MoTRI) confirmed that, as of June 4, 2025, the government has suspended fuel subsidies, aligning domestic prices with global market rates. This move follows a series of price hikes earlier in the year, with gasoline now retailing at 122 birr per liter and diesel and kerosene at 116 birr per liter—an increase of 10 birr since May. The government argues that the subsidy removal is essential to reduce fiscal deficits and bring Ethiopia’s fuel market in line with international norms.

Despite these justifications, parliamentarians voiced alarm about persistent shortages and non-operational fuel stations, some of which have reportedly remained idle for over three months. They highlighted that, even though prices have not risen dramatically in recent weeks, the removal of subsidies has not led to the anticipated improvements in supply. Instead, the market appears to be grappling with deeper structural issues.

Parliament members called for a comprehensive review of the entire fuel marketing chain—from importers to retailers—citing difficulties in securing fuel imports, lengthy delays at ports, and allegations of corruption, including bribes of up to 400,000 birr to expedite shipments. “If these problems are not addressed from the bottom up, lifting subsidies could trigger even greater disruptions,” warned one lawmaker.

Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Kassahun Gofe (PhD), acknowledged the challenges, noting that the government imported 121 million liters of fuel this year but has only managed to distribute about 55 million liters, with the rest hampered by logistical and market constraints. He emphasized that the government’s remaining subsidies are targeted at ensuring equitable access for low-income residents, but coverage is now limited to just 8.8 percent of the market.

Kassahun also pointed to ongoing efforts to crack down on fuel smuggling and illegal trading practices, which he said have distorted the market and undermined the purpose of subsidies. Companies found engaging in such activities have faced bans and hefty fines, but enforcement remains a challenge.

Industry experts and business leaders echoed these concerns. According to recent data, Ethiopia has 698 gas stations as of May 2025, an 11.68% increase from 2023, but many regions remain underserved, with over 500 districts lacking any fuel retail infrastructure.

The government has pledged to address these gaps through a new fuel master plan, which aims to identify priority areas for new station construction and improve distribution logistics. However, lawmakers questioned the pace of these reforms and called for greater transparency and accountability throughout the sector.

The debate comes amid broader economic pressures, including high inflation, foreign exchange shortages, and volatile global oil prices. The government spends more than $4 billion annually on fuel imports, and officials argue that continuing to subsidize prices is unsustainable in the long run. “If the private sector and business community do not share the burden, it will be challenging for the government to carry out major projects,” Kassahun stated.