Addis Ababa, October 30, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia has ordered 400 additional natural gas-powered buses and nearly 100 gas transport trucks as part of efforts to expand the use of locally produced natural gas in public transportation, logistics and other economic activities, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has disclosed.
Speaking at the commissioning of the natural gas-powered city bus service in Addis Ababa today, the Prime Minister said the 400 buses are expected to arrive in Ethiopia within approximately three months.
Their introduction would account for around 30 percent of the existing Addis Ababa Anbessa city bus fleet, marking a significant expansion of the ongoing transition from conventional fuel to natural gas.
He said the government would continue converting existing buses to operate on natural gas while preparing to introduce the newly ordered vehicles.
The longer-term objective is to progressively transition the city’s fuel-powered buses to natural gas, extending the initiative beyond the initial fleet already converted, he asserted.
The Prime Minister also disclosed that nearly 100 gas transport trucks have been ordered and are expected to arrive within two to three months.
The vehicles, he said, will help move natural gas from production and distribution facilities to factories, construction sites and other users, strengthening the infrastructure required to expand its domestic utilization.
He explained that transporting natural gas requires specialized equipment and logistics, making the availability of dedicated trucks essential to connecting production sites with consumers and industries.
The planned expansion is also expected to support efforts to reduce transportation and construction costs, PM Abiy noted.
The Prime Minister noted that the cost of construction materials is influenced not only by manufacturing expenses but also by the cost of transporting them to construction sites. More efficient gas distribution could therefore help lower both production and delivery costs.
He further linked improved transport logistics to the movement of agricultural products from rural areas to cities, noting that reducing transportation expenses could help ease pressure on food prices and the broader cost of living.
Beyond buses and trucks, the Prime Minister said the government had begun work to extend natural gas use to taxis, with the aim of reducing operating expenses for transport service providers and making transportation more affordable.
He emphasized that expanding natural gas utilization requires more than initiating production, pointing to the need for distribution facilities, specialized vehicles, technical expertise and continued investment to ensure the resource reaches industries and consumers.
The Prime Minister described the current developments as an important beginning, while stressing that Ethiopia still needs to expand the transition to more buses, taxis, factories and other sectors to translate its domestic energy resources into wider economic and public benefits.