AmendmentTrade

A DIRECTIVE ISSUED TO REGULATE THE SUPPLY, DISTRIBUTION, MARKETING AND UTILIZATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration1094/2025

Summary

This directive, issued by the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, regulates the supply, distribution, marketing, and utilization of petroleum products in Ethiopia. It repeals Directive No. 904/2022 and outlines specific obligations for importers, distributors, fuel stations, carriers, and petroleum tanker drivers, alongside oversight and administrative measures by regulatory bodies. The directive aims to ensure fair distribution, product quality, safety, and efficient market operations.

Who's affected

Importers, distributors, fuel stations, carriers, petroleum tanker drivers, and regulatory bodies involved in the petroleum products supply chain.

Action required

Market actors should review and comply with the specific obligations and procedures outlined for their roles within the petroleum products supply chain.

Key points

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  • This directive repeals Petroleum Products Distribution, Delivery and Sales Implementation Directive No. 904/2022.
  • It establishes detailed obligations for importers, distributors, fuel stations, carriers, and drivers in the petroleum product supply chain.
  • Oversight responsibilities are divided among the Ministry, Authority, and Relevant Bodies.
    • Show 3 more
    • Strict administrative measures, including quota deprivation, suspension, and revocation of competence certificates, are outlined for violations.
    • Complaint handling mechanisms are established, allowing appeals up to the Ministry and then the competent court.
    • The directive mandates the use of digital payment systems for petroleum product transactions.

Requirements

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  • Importers must verify GPS installation on tankers, provide loading permits based on Authority-provided lists, submit daily cargo reports, and refrain from servicing suspended entities.
  • Distributors must ensure fuel stations meet quality and safety standards, annually calibrate dispensers, manage product sharing between stations, settle payments through national systems, and ensure tankers display logos and destination particulars.
  • Fuel stations must install flow meters, annually calibrate equipment, verify seals upon receiving products, notify distributors of discrepancies, sell using digital payment systems, adhere to government-set prices, provide 24-hour service if products are available, install generators, and maintain cargo documents.
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    • Carriers and owners associations must ensure annual tanker calibration, GPS installation, cooperation with distributors on branding and destinations, follow-up on tanker operations, ensure drivers use authorized routes and times, and recruit competent drivers.
    • Petroleum tanker drivers must operate on authorized routes and times, deliver to the desired destination, maintain seals, measure products, submit delivery receipts, care for GPS equipment, and refrain from carrying unauthorized cargo or persons.
    • Market actors must cooperate with regulatory activities.
    • Inspectors must show identification, submit reports, maintain confidentiality, and refrain from soliciting undue advantages.

Rights and permissions

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  • Market actors aggrieved by decisions can lodge complaints to the Head of the Authority, then to the Head of the Ministry, and finally to the competent Court.
  • Inspectors have the right to enter premises without prior notice under certain conditions and request support from local police and security bodies.

Restrictions

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  • Importers must not provide loading permits without verification and must refrain from servicing suspended entities.
  • Distributors must not load and sell petroleum products from stations that have interrupted operation or are under repair, and must ensure tanker operations are within authorized routes and times.
  • Fuel stations must not sell petroleum products at prices other than those set by the government and must sell using only authorized digital payment systems.
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    • Carriers and owners associations must ensure tankers do not carry any cargo or person except the driver, assistant driver, and petroleum products.
    • Petroleum tanker drivers must not operate outside authorized routes and times, and must not carry unauthorized cargo or persons.
    • No person shall retail petroleum products outside a fuel station unless granted a permit.

Penalties

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  • Distributors can face deprivation of petroleum product quotas for varying periods, written warnings, suspension of competence certificates, or revocation of competence certificates for repeated violations.
  • Fuel stations can face suspension of competence certificates, deprivation of petroleum product quotas, written warnings, or revocation of competence certificates for repeated violations.
  • Carriers and owners associations can face suspension of competence certificates, written warnings, or revocation of competence certificates for repeated violations.
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    • Petroleum tanker drivers can face written notification to the carrier for first violations and prohibition of fuel transportation services by the distributor and importer for second violations.
    • Inspectors violating confidentiality or soliciting undue advantages are liable under criminal law.
    • Products sold outside a fuel station without a permit are subject to confiscation.

Objectives

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  • To regulate the supply, distribution, marketing, and utilization of petroleum products.
  • To ensure fair and accessible distribution of petroleum products.
  • To enhance product quality, safety, and efficient market operations.
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    • To establish clear oversight and administrative measures for market actors.

Organizations

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  • Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration
  • Authority
  • Relevant Body (Regional/Zonal Offices)
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    • Local Police
    • Other relevant security and administrative bodies

Legal references

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  • Article 28 (2) of the Petroleum Products Marketing Proclamation No. 1363/2025
  • Article 2 of the Petroleum Products Marketing Proclamation No. 1363/2025
  • Public Service Law (for disciplinary liability of inspectors)
Original sourcehttps://justice.gov.et/en/directives/a-directive-issued-to-regulate-the-supply-distribution-marketing-and-utilization-of-petroleum-products-directive-no-1094-2017/
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