KEYIR NEWS:- Three fuel stations in Addis Ababa have been sealed off and their employees taken into police custody for allegedly hoarding fuel and triggering artificial shortages, despite the city maintaining an adequate supply.
Ato Ashenafi Berhanu, head of public relations at the Addis Ababa Trade Bureau, attributed recent long queues—particularly for diesel—not to actual scarcity but to fuel stations withholding supply in anticipation of a price hike.
He disclosed that the city’s 125 fuel stations are receiving supplies three times daily, with over six million litres available as of the latest report. The situation has since stabilised, with shorter queues reported across the capital.
Authorities also intercepted 16 fuel tankers delayed en route from Djibouti. Under the standard, tankers are expected to reach the capital within three days. Delays, often citing false justifications, were found to be contributing to the disruptions.
The Trade Proclamation penalises the concealment of essential goods with fines ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 Br, and prison sentences of two to three years for offenders.