Ethiopia’s government announces an upgrade to its fuel supply route: on 24 September, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote publicly unveil a $660 million pipeline project. The pipeline is intended to transport refined petroleum products from Damerjog port to Dewele in eastern Ethiopia, covering about 120 kilometres.
The announcement comes against the background of Ethiopia’s long-running transport challenge after Eritrea gains independence in 1993, which leaves Ethiopia landlocked. As a result, much of the country’s imports—particularly fuel needed for economic activity—has relied heavily on access through Djibouti, largely via road routes. By adding a dedicated pipeline segment linked to a specific port-to-region connection, the project is presented as a way to strengthen and potentially streamline that fuel logistics chain.
Across the available reporting, the emphasis is on the practical impact of improving the “lifeline” for refined products rather than on broader political arguments or alternative supply routes.
