200 Trucks full of Fuel Found Hidden Outside Addis 

ADDIS ABABA – At least 200 fuel trucks were found hidden outside Addis Ababa during a search, according to the Ethiopian Petroleum and Energy Authority. 

The trucks were expected to transport fuel to Addis Ababa and other major cities after loading fuel from Djibouti. 

They, however, were found hidden in several places in the Afar region as well as Metehara, Mojo, and Adama towns, officials of the Authority told reporters on Thursday morning.

Their action has caused artificial fuel shortages in major cities, said Seharla Abdullahi, director-general of the Authority.  

EPEA gave them until 04:00 p.m. Thursday to transport the fuel to their final destinations and report back to the Authority.

Measures will be taken on those who failed to do so, said Seharla, adding a task force has been formed to follow up on the issue. 

Some petrol stations often conspire with owners of fuel trucks for their trucks to arrive late at the end of the Ethiopian month, and profit from monthly fuel price adjustments.