Economic Focus The Role of the Transport Sector in ’s Economic Development L±n a^×Ñì@KS

THE ROLE OF THE TRANSPORT SECTOR IN ETHIOPIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT *

Temesgen Aklilu**

Translated by Yonas Admassu

I. Introduction pedestrians, animal- or human-drawn regular surface railway, metro or sub- or driven carts, wheel barrows, way, monorail, guided bus, trolley bus, This paper has been prepared at the bicycles and tricycles, draught animals etc. The rail transport system is solicitation of the Ethiopian Economic (horses, donkeys, camels, mules, classified as Light Rail Transit (LRT) Association, and it aims at exploring the elephants, etc.) and other hand drawn and Heavy Rail Transit (HRT). performance of Ethiopia's transport vehicles. sector. The paper has five main The other transportation mode, fairly chapters. The first chapter introduces The motorized vehicles are divided recent in appearance and modern in its the paper. The second chapter focuses into freight transport and human constitution, is air transport. The on the general concept of transport vehicles. Freight transport appearance on the scene of air transportation. Chapters three and four vehicles include pickups and trucks, or transport is historically linked to the describe the development of our lories, with a load capacity of up to use of balloons for navigational country's modern transportation 500 quintals. Human transport purposes. But the basis for the system and the objective conditions includes the whole range of vehicles development of the world's fastest characterizing the sector. The last beginning with bicycles and small cars transportation system is the series of chapter constitutes the visions the and extending all the way up to cross- experiments undertaken by the Wright author has regarding the future country buses and urban buses. Brothers. Like the other transport development of the country's transport modes described above, air transport is sector. Water transport is divided into local divided into domestic and and international (marine) transport international, on the one hand, and II. The Transport Sector: modes. Local transport mode includes human and freight transportation on Some Concepts river, lake, and canal transportation as the other. Presently the world uses well transportation on huge dams. airplanes ranging from the smallest, 2.1 Classification of Transport Marine transport includes both cargo accommodating only one person (the Modes and human transport across seas or pilot), to the largest, accommodating

oceans between the ports of the 350 people and traversing long Five transport modes have been different countries. distances across lands and oceans to witnessed so far in the history of connect the different parts of the humanity's technological develop- Rail transport, which started about the globe. ment: namely, road transport, water time of the Industrial Revolution after transport, rail transport, air transport, the 1810s and 1820s, has been serving Finally, the other transport mode is and continuous flow system. the world for nearly 200 years. There are what is known as continuous flow

many types of rail transportation. The first system, under which are subsumed Road transport consists of several phase featured a kind of train drawn by water or petroleum pipe, belt types or modes, which are divided into horses, followed by steam-powered train, conveyor, and slurry pipe, which is two main sub-categories: motorized followed by the street car. Next came the specially used in mines to transport and non-motorized. Under the non- different types of rail transport modes: the soil and minerals mixed with water. motorized category are included ______* A talk prepared for the Vision 2020 Ethiopia Forum held on August 11, 2006 at Hilton Hotel. ** Ato Temesgen Aklilu obtained his BA degree in Economics from Asmara University in 1987 and MA degree in Regional Development from the University in 2001. He worked in various institutions such as Addis Ababa Transport and Communication Bureau as department head of Transport system. Currently, Ato Temesgen is a lecturer in Civil Service College.

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Economic Focus The Role of the Transport Sector in Ethiopia’s Economic Development L±n a^×Ñì@KS

2.2 The Contribution of In terms of creating job opportunities, while rail transport has a share of 50 Transportation to Socio- the share of the transportation sector in and 65 per cent, respectively, of Economic Development the developing countries is only 2-4% commuters and cargo. due to the low-level performance of Among the modes of transportation the economy, while in the developed When we sum it all up, other than the that played a big role in the history of countries, the figure stands at 4-8%. roles pointed out above, transportation humankind, road and water transport And the job creating role of the sector plays other important roles as well: it figure prominent [are in the forefront]. does not include the labor force helps countries in maintaining a Although the expansion of the deployed in the building of balance in the export market and transport sector is of tremendous infrastructure. generating foreign currency; it serves economic, social and political benefit, as a source of income generation both there are nevertheless some negative When the living condition of a for governments and the public; highly aspects to it. The fact that its energy country's population improves, the contributes to the maintaining of a consumption is high (16-35%), that it population's transport demand country's peace, political well being is foremost among the factors that increases accordingly. While the per and stability; plays the role of linking contribute to environmental pollution, capita transport demand in the rural areas and rural products to urban that it has been classified among the developing countries covers a travel centers; helps in increasing and world's killer diseases with regard to distance ranging between 500 and 200 interconnecting market outlets; it helps traffic accidents, and that it has Km, that of the developed countries shorten travel time; has the capacity to become a source of anxiety in terms of lies between 7000 and 10,000 Km. transport huge numbers of people and congestion constitute the negative side But, Americans are known to travel big volumes of cargo; makes big of the transport sector. between 17,000 and 20,000 Km contribution to the development of annually. Next to America are, in the tourism, entertainment, sports and The contribution of transportation to a order of their appearance, Norway, peaceful relationship among people. In country's development is high. Its Holland, New Zealand, France and short, the world has become one share of contribution to the GDP of a England. global village through the use of country is incontrovertible, though the transportation and communication. nature and extent of the contribution The most salient feature observed in The five continents, which are home to varies from country to country. (See the transport sector in relation to the human race, are now able to Table 1 in the Amharic version) growth in income is the increase in the communicate among themselves in a motorization of the public. When we matter just of minutes and hours. Transportation plays a big role in what translate this in terms of ranking, we is known in both national and find that, in the 1980s, the car-people III. A Brief History of the international trade as invisible trade. It ratio was 550-600 to every 1000 Development of Modern has been confirmed that its share in people. In this respect, the United Transportation in States of America is in the lead, this respect in many developed Ethiopia countries is as high as 26%. followed by France, Australia, Austria and England, respectively. The same 3.1 From Menelik to the End of the Dergue Period The role of transportation in the feature manifests itself in urban investment sector varies between the centers as well. When people's income When we speak of modern developed and the developing increase in urban centers, the tendency transportation in the Ethiopian context, countries. Because a good part of towards owning cars grows at the the reign of Emperor Menelik holds a infrastructure development has been expense of using public transportation. cardinal place. According to some taken care of in the developed writers, the idea of road construction countries, most of the investment there To look at but one example, in the started with the reign of Emperor focuses on automotive equipment, United States the share of Tewodros, when he used manual labor whereas the investment in the transportation in commuting stands at for clearing land for a pathway across developing countries focuses on 92%, that for cargo has a share only of which to haul his canon, the infrastructure development. Of the 25%. In the case of rail transport, the Sebastopol, to Mekdela. Since, total investment expenditure of share of commuters is a mere 1%, however, the purpose of the roadway developing countries, 30-35% goes to while cargo transportation has a had nothing to do with serving the infrastructure development, whereas in whopping 43%. In India, to take public, let us limit our observation to the developed countries the share of another example, road transport has a the fact alone and pass on to the reign expenditure for same is only 15-20%. share of 48 and 35 per cent, respectively, of cargo and commuters, of Menelik.

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Economic Focus The Role of the Transport Sector in Ethiopia’s Economic Development L±n a^×Ñì@KS

Using his close relationship with the Although, according to historical better services and attract passengers government of Austria, Emperor records, the first motor vehicle and clients flourished. Consequently Menelik imported the roller, one of the operator was Emperor Menelik several laws and regulations related to technological products of the time, himself, the first operator with a legal the administration of transportation circa 1885-1887, Gregorian Calendar. driver's license was Negadras were issued. After 1967/68, however, But the building of the roadway itself Tesemma Eshete, who learned the many things changed, especially on which this roller was operated skill while he was in Germany. changes that brought the development carried out by clearing the forest and of transportation to a virtual standstill. leveling the land with a labor force Regarding the promulgation of Several transport companies were drawn both from the governments transportation codes, the laws nationalized and brought under the army and the public. Documents promulgated in 1934 and 1935 jurisdiction of Freight Transport reveal that the first bridge to be built (Ethiopian Calendar) are considered Agency and Public Transport was that across the Awash, which took the first written laws. At the level of Corporation. Everything pertaining to place in 1886/87. According to the government offices, however, the first transportation was administered records, after the roller was institution in charge of transportation through zonal structures. transported to Addis Ababa, Menelik was the Road Transport During the Dergue period, the role of had a 45-Kilometer stretch of road Administration Bureau, which was private transportation was restricted, built through the combined labor of established in 1960. Prior to that, the because of which there was a high the military and the civilian administration of most of shortage of public transportation. The population, while the roller was transportation activities was the building and administration of simultaneously put to work on this responsibility of a board and some transportation infrastructure was same road, but it did not take long for share companies under the jurisdiction completely under the jurisdiction of the machine to break down and be of the Ministry of Transport and the Highway Authority. This abandoned, never, it appears, to Communications. centralized transportation service, as function ever after. Different historical well as infrastructure development and sources also point out that the first Regarding the administration of other administration, continued until automobile came to Ethiopia in transportation systems, we find that 1984/85, a situation that is still fresh in 1907/08, Gregorian Calendar, rail transport administration came into our memory. following which other cars with being along with the beginning of rail different models were imported from transportation in the 1910s. As for air 3.2 Profile of the Country's England and Germany. The sources also transport, Captain Mekonnen Beri tells Transportation System from point out that in 1908, Gregorian us, in his book, “Aviation in Ethiopia” 1984-1997 Calendar, several trucks were operating in that the first airplane came to Ethiopia during the dry season. in 1921. Following that, towards the Structural adjustment in many

end of the 1930s (more specifically in government institutions was first Given the cultural disposition of the 1938), was legally initiated in 1984. Accordingly, while society at the time, those who were established. Regarding water transport, in 1984 the country's road transportat- able to operate cars seemed to have the Ethiopian Merchant Navy was ion service became de-centralized, the satisfied themselves with the idea of established during the reign of other branches of the sector have just driving the respective vehicles Emperor Haile Selassie, towards the continued to-date with their previous they owned, traffic laws and end of the 1950s and the beginning of structures intact. regulations being alien to them until the 1960s, alongside which seaport the years between 1915 and 1917. and maritime transport offices as well Beginning in Miazia 1983, and Gradually, however, oral directives as maritime transport authority were particularly since the moment when and orders were given both to vehicle mandated to administer the country's our country lost the port of , the operators and pedestrians. international water transport system. state of the water transport branch of

the transportation sector deteriorated. Although the Italian invasion of 1935-41 The 1950s and '60s constitute that Locally, however, water transport on had inflicted damage on the country, it period in the history of the Tana and the in the south nevertheless had its own contribution to development of our country's still run minor operations under the the expansion of modern transportation. transportation sector in which much jurisdiction of the respective Regional It has been reported that public was accomplished. The period was States. transportation, but especially taxi and one during which many agencies and bus services, started in Ethiopia during companies were created and the Italian invasion. competitions among them to provide

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Economic Focus The Role of the Transport Sector in Ethiopia’s Economic Development L±n a^×Ñì@KS

Rail transport has been providing trucks become beneficiaries of the proliferation of brokers and porters at service since the 1910s without any transport market, especially along the bus depots; charging clients the same interruption, granted that there is only Ethio- line, while the service high price for both small and large one railway line. In the last 15 years, coverage of the lighter trucks expands suitcases; absence of a clearly however, the rail transport branch has locally when agricultural production is organized system of weight check for been facing serious problems. And on the increase. However, because the all to use equally; lack of fully recently, there have been situations volume of freight highly decreases equipped information and other types when rail transport services had come during the four months between of services at depots; unclean window to a halt. Ethiopia and Djibouti got Hamle and Tiqimt, there are occasions panes, window curtains, seats and together and decided to turn the when truck owners are forced to aisles characterizing the buses; the railway into a private venture and ground their vehicles (remain idle}. disorderly manner with which services invited international bidders. They are One visible problem those in the inside the buses are provided, such as, now waiting give the contract to South freight transport business face is the for example, music, advertisement and Africa, which won the bid. The agency pressure that individual brokers in the picture displays. Another problem is has had several problems, including: business exert on them. Because the that many of the buses are so old that security along the railway line, the capacity of vehicle operators, be they they break down before they have deterioration of and backwardness of companies or individuals, in terms of even left the perimeters of Addis the available locomotives, lack quality looking for freight is limited and the Ababa, in the wake of which the and capacity on the part of the culture of "selling themselves" in the scuttling and scampering to replace management, internal problems within market has not developed in our them with other operable buses has the ranks of the agency's employees, country, they fall under the pressure of become a matter of routine. and financial shortage. the brokers, who are adept at selling information and determining the cost IV. The Current Situation of Regarding road transportation, the paid by both the operators and their the Ethiopian Transport branch has, over the past 13 years, clients for the brokerage services they Sector managed to recuperate from the get. Another aspect of the freight 4.1 The Situation of Transport shortage in vehicles that it suffered in transport sector is that the number of Services the previous years, with the result that old truck, especially those that have many vehicles, both new and second- been running for 15-40 years, is high. The transportation branches for which hand, were imported and deployed in data are available in Ethiopia are road the provision of better services to the A rather curious aspect of the public transport, air transport, rail transport public. Beginning in 1984/85, transport sector is the equal and water transport. Of these four different proclamations, regulations deployment of buses that are over 30 types, the biggest service provider is and directives were issued, with the years old and technically ill-equipped the road transport branch. view to improving the transport sector. along with new buses. With regard to Accordingly, 90% of freight Especially notable is as a favorable both major and medium-capacity transportation both in the import and measure is the incentives given to public transportation, the equal export sectors and 95% of the public individuals and organizations that deployment of new and old vehicles transportation services are provided by were intent upon importing new buses has created problems in the services the road transport branch. Whereas the and trucks. the sector provides. The attempt on the majority of the urban population part of operators with old model buses covers short- and medium-range Moreover, while the freight transport to get acceptance in the transport distances on foot, in the urban areas service has been totally privatized, service sector by giving their vehicles people for the most part travel on foot, following the free-market principle, new appearance through paint jobs, save for those limited instances where heavy-duty trucks with a high load- without any engine overhaul, and they use draught animals. It has been capacity have proliferated, providing competing with the modern noted that the size of the population sustained services along the Ethio- ‘CaciaMale’ and Isuzu models, with access to modern transportation Djibouti line. Similarly, moderate- thereby hoodwinking the public, is a in Ethiopia does not exceed 20% weight trucks with a load-capacity of rather surprising phenomenon. Among (Federal Transport Authority, Megabit 30 to 100 quintals have been imported the problems we observed over the 1998). When we look at the overall and are now running both short- and past 15 years in the public transport situation in the transport sector, we medium-range distances, providing sector, to mention but a few, are: lack observe instability of operation and, in services in the various regions of the or absence of safety with regard to some cases, deterioration. country. When droughts and war occur handling people's luggage; the in our country, many heavy-duty abandonment of the tag-system; the

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Economic Focus The Role of the Transport Sector in Ethiopia’s Economic Development L±n a^×Ñì@KS

When we look at the total manpower annually, the growth rate stands at details are shown in Table 3 (see the employed by the government, the 0.8%. Amharic script). share of the labor force employed by government institutions in the Compared to the other African As we can see from Table 3, the transport sector, namely, Transport countries, the number of motor importation of freight transport Authority, Ethiopian Road Authority, vehicles in Ethiopia is very low. When vehicles had an annual growth rate of Road Fund Administration, is 46.7%. it comes to loading capacity in terms 38% for the 16 years between 1980 This figure does not include the both of freight and passengers, the and 1995. The growth rate was for the manpower employed by the regional number of vehicles with low and mid- years after 1984 alone was 21%. One transport institutions. Following in level capacities is very limited. A large can see the effect of the war and the second place, the air transport sector's share of the country's motor vehicles economy on the import rate for the share of manpower is 39.3%. At the goes to private (domestic) cars with years between 1989 and 1991. moment, of all the branches of the over 37% of the total. While the share transport sector, these two branches of public transport vehicles stands at The volume of people and goods have the best performance records. 70%, the remaining 30% goes to transported freight transport. 4.1.1 Profile of the country's road Due to the transport sector's peculiar transport The state of newly imported and characteristic and the backwardness of registered cars the record-keeping systems of our The road transport sub-sector can be country, it is difficult to the exact examined under two headings: Regarding vehicles imported and volume of people and goods namely, infrastructure development registered, the data as of 1982, but transported over the years. However, and services. With regard to especially that for the years 1983 to there are different organizations and infrastructure development, although 1988/89, shows that the number had government offices collect data at the present moment we see more increased by much, while it tended to especially concerning the Federal activities, according to the data decrease for the years 1990 to 1993, Transport Authority for different obtained from the Ministry of only to rise again in 1994. It can be reasons. Using these organizations and Transport and Communications for the easily observed that the decline offices as sources, an attempt has been years before 1995, the total mileage registered for the years 1990 to 1993 made to look into the nature of the covered by roads built was only was due to the closing of the port of activities in the transport sector as they 33,876 Km. Of this total, the total Assab and the Ethio-Eritrean war. relate to the number of people and the distance covered by paved (asphalt) volume of goods transported over the roads was only 13% (or 4362 Km.), According to the available data, over specified years. while 36% (or 12,360 Km) was three-fourths of the vehicles imported constituted by all weather and dry- into our country are used for public As we can see from Table 4 (see in the weather gravel roads. The remaining transportation, and of these, private Amharic version), in the past 13 years 50% was covered by rural gravel (domestic) cars constitute over 51%. between 1985 and 1997, the number of roads. According the data so far This is significant because the vehicles commuters has shown a growth rate of examined, the annual growth rate of in this category represent the increase 10-13%, while that of dry goods road infrastructure development has in motorization in our country. With transportation has shown a growth rate been 1.7%. regard to public transport vehicles, of 6-7%. In the case of liquid freight those with a load-capacity of 6 to 30 the growth rate was 5%. Generally According to data obtained from the people have a high rate of import. speaking, then, in both public transport Federal Transport Authority, the With regard to vehicles for and freight transport, but especially in annual rate of increase in the number transportation of goods, those with the case of the former, we see an of vehicles was 10%, with only less than 70 quintals load-capacity enormous growth. Looking at the 166,310 vehicles for 1997. The past 12 have the highest share with 79% of the different types of transport services, years from 1985-1997 constitute a total. This means that, because our the biggest share goes to the services period during which the increase in the economy still is in its beginning stage, provided by those vehicles and number of vehicles in the country was the Isuzu brand trucks with a load- organizations in the private sector, in high. The details are given in Table 2 capacity of 30-70 quintals are the terms both of transporting people and (see in the Amharic script). more convenient to serve the purpose. goods. However, because of shortage The importation of freight (both dry of data, it has been difficult to find out In connection with this, while 59,785 and liquid) transport vehicles has the extent of the services provided by new driver's licenses have been issued shown a high increase after 1984. The the transport sector as a whole. Since,

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Economic Focus The Role of the Transport Sector in Ethiopia’s Economic Development L±n a^×Ñì@KS

however, the performance of and the vehicles make to the all-round social 10,000 people. Compared with the services provided by government and economic development of the number of deaths caused by traffic organizations could provide us with country is very much limited. accidents in our country, the figure for some information, it would be useful Kenya stands at less than one-third. to have a look into them. We shall Our Country's Transport Service and Even then, it has been confirmed that now, therefore, look at the nature of Traffic Safety Kenya loses from 1.2 to 2% of its the services provided by those Gross Domestic Product (GDP). When government agencies, such as Anbessa The question of safety is something we compare our situation with that of and Waliya Transport enterprises. that one needs to give priority Kenya, it means that we lose at least consideration in any area of nothing less than 5% of our GDP As we can see from Table 5 (see in the production and service provision. In every year. Amharic script), the services provided this respect, it has now been clear for by inter-urban public transport has quite a while that, among the social 4.1.2 Water Transport been deteriorating at a high level, and economic sectors, the road while in the case of intra-urban public transport economic sector can be In the area of water transport in our transport, especially in Addis Ababa, singled out as the most riddled with country, except for the 13 to 18 one observes improvement both in the safety problems. In the past 20 years, maritime merchant vessels that operate volume of commuters and distances in particular, the incidence of traffic on international waters transporting covered. However, the growth rate of accidents in our country is goods, and which are either bought or the service had shown a very disproportionately high compared to rented, all the country has is the few significant decrease, particularly in the the low number of vehicles. boats operating on and the three years between 1986 and 1989. In Baro River. Since it became the period specified, the number of As can be seen from Table 7 (see the landlocked in 1983, Ethiopia has been buses available in 1984 was only 145, Amharic script) the incidence of using the ports of neighboring while this number had increased to traffic accidents has been on the countries. While the bulk both of 343 in 1995. The public transport increase, especially since 1994. Even export and import goods were being service in has shown the most more notable is the fact that the handled by the Port of Assab until the deterioration. The number of buses incidence of death has been increasing breakout of the Ethio-Eritrean war, available in the town wavered between with a rate (12%) not less than the over 90% of Ethiopia's import-export 4 and 6. Besides, because the available incidence of minor and serious trade is currently being handled by the buses had served for a long period of damages. It has now been many years port at Djibouti. The other alternatives time, the level of the quality of service since our country has been in the are Port Sudan and the port of shows a high level of deterioration. forefront in violation of traffic safety Hargessa (). In connection among African and other developing with this, the creation of Maritime Road Transport Vehicles-Population countries. According to data garnered transit services provided by private Ratio from the Internet, Ethiopia is preceded agencies is a big change for the better. only by the Central African Republic With regard to freight service When considered in terms both of in terms of the occurrence rate of operations, while the situation for the numbers and vehicle-population ration serious traffic accidents. 12 years between 1981 to 1992 was the state of road such that activities either remained figures much lower than that of the According to this Internet data, the constant or showed some decrease, the other Sub-Saharan African countries. problem of traffic safety in our years between 1993 and 1995, on the Table 6 shows how Ethiopia fares in country is quite a serious one, and other hand, represented a period of this respect. compared to our neighbors, such as high growth in the country's maritime Kenya (see Table 8 in the Amharic activities. As Table 6 indicates (see in the script), for instance, the problem is Amharic version), compared to the indeed critical. Although it is difficult Of the total volume of transport of size of Ethiopia's population, the for us to quantify the negative impact goods by sea, 80% was taken by number of vehicles available is very the problem of traffic safety has on the imports. Due to the drought, famine low. Not only that, the fact that about country's economic and social and war in the years up to 1993, the 80% of the vehicles operating in the development, the damage it causes in bulk of the import was constituted by sector are more than 10-15 years old this respect is something that anybody relief goods and fuel. After 1993, (on the average) is another aspect of can imagine. For example in Kenya, however, the situation changed, such the situation. Given this, it is not the proportion of the people dying that the bulk of imports constituted difficult to see that the contribution the from traffic accidents is 64.3 in every capital goods. The number of ships the

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Economic Focus The Role of the Transport Sector in Ethiopia’s Economic Development L±n a^×Ñì@KS

country owned until 1995 was only 9, 11 huge, modern aircrafts at any one time. the transport sector have, at one time and the total load capacity of the ships The terminal has parking lots enough to or another, designed various totaled to only 101,288 DWT. accommodate 1300 cars at any one time, proclamations, regulations and modern facilities, restaurants, banks, directives by which they administered 4.1.3 Air Transport telecommunication services, customs and guided their respective services and various booths. responsibilities. Our air transport sector can be described as Ethiopia's ambassador at Although the private sector 4.2 The Structural Profile of the large serving to link Ethiopia with the proclamation allows for aircrafts with Transport Sector rest of the world. Its status both within a seating capacity of 20 passengers Africa and around the world has been and cargo planes with unlimited The administrative structure of the increasing from time to time, and it loading capacity, the number of government that was put in place after has assumed a special status among enterprises so far registered is three. the change of regimes in 1983 based African countries as the airline to be And among these three, only on the principles of federalism, for relied upon, as has been expressed at Abyssinia Air has managed to operate which reason, therefore it is by and various forums. However, the local successfully. Neighboring Kenya large decentralized. This means that a service the airline provides is not as boasts over 400 private air service good portion of government reputable as its international flights. companies. responsibilities and activities are Although there have emerged some shared by the federal government and private aviation companies operating While passenger services have shown the different regional states. However, of late, the range of the services they increase in both international and such government services as provide is very much limited. domestic flights, domestic cargo telecommunications, electric light and According to some experts, among the services have shown an annual postal services still remain within the reasons for the limited domestic decrease of 3%. International services jurisdiction of the federal structure. services both the Ethiopian airlines have shown an annual increase of and the private operators provide are: 6.12% in both passenger and cargo The transport sector is one of those the small number of planes; the low transportation. economic sectors whose buying power of the people; the administration is shared between the relative shortness of the runways at the 4.1.4 Rail Transport federal government and the regional available airports. But of late, some of states. Of the different branches of the the domestic airports have been The Ethio-Djibouti railway line is the transport sector, while the upgraded, the major ones in this regard only rail transport the country has. administration of road transport is being the airports at Dire Dawa, Bahir While the total distance covered by the shared between the federal and Dar, Makele, Lalibela, , Arba line is 781 Km, the 681 Km-stretch regional government structures, the Minch and Gambella. The others, such lies within Ethiopian territory. When whole maritime transport branch is as Jimma airport, for instance, are in we look at the profile of the services under the jurisdiction of the Federal bad shape. provided by the railway, we find that it Ministry of Transport and has been in constant decrease. Communications and the Federal While Ethiopian airlines caters to 45 Transport Authority. The domestic destination ports internationally, its Over the years passengers on the water transport branch has been placed local destinations are limited to 34. Ethio-Djibouti railway line has been under the jurisdiction of the transport The airline currently has 45 planes and decreasing at an annual rate of 7%, bureaus of the respective regional two international airports, the other while the volume of cargo has been states. being that of Dire Dawa. The other decreasing at an annual rate of 1% and airports are equipped enough only for currently it appears the railway line With regard to the building of domestic services: namely, Arba ceased its operation. transport infrastructure, a look into the Minch, Asossa, Axum, Hamer-Bakko, details of the structure reveals that , Beka, Debre Markos, Now that we have looked at the profile there is only one agency at the federal , Dembidollo, , of the different transportation types, level; namely, the Ethiopian Road Gambella, Gobba, , , the next logical question to address Authority. In addition to providing , Jimma, Kebridahar, Lalibela, would inevitably be if Ethiopia has a support to regions for purposes of Mekane Selam, Mekele, , transport policy on the basis of which capacity building, the main duties and Negelle, Shelabo, Shire, Teppi, etc. to administer its transport sector. The responsibilities of the Authority are The recently completed Addis Ababa answer, in short, is a resounding No! building and maintaining roads and airport at Bole has the capacity to cater to However, all the different branches of highways that link the various regions

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Economic Focus The Role of the Transport Sector in Ethiopia’s Economic Development L±n a^×Ñì@KS

as well as supervising other related involving death as a result of this kind In the case the Federal Transport activities. In this respect, efforts have of illegal crossing. When we look at Authority, it had been known as Road been made in the past four to five the situation in the other cities and Transport Authority beginning with years to build these highways in towns, because of the level nature of 1969 until 1977. The institution's keeping with international standards. the topography, the communities responsibilities included the However, because the newly opened either use non0motorized vehicles, administration and control of highways have not been given due such as bicycles, or simply walk. The motorized transport services. Since a attention with respect to maintenance, fact that no consideration has been year ago, however, the institution has one sees most of them furrowed and given to this aspect of the people's life been named the Federal Transport damaged by rain water during the and keeping only the needs of Authority and restructured to include rainy season. The change that took motorized vehicles in mind reminds regulating and licensing rail and water place in Addis Ababa over the past one of the Amharic saying fiyyel transport as part of its duties and three years is a good example of the wedih qizimzim wediya [literally, 'the responsibilities. achievement made with regard to the goat runs one way while the rod flies building of road infrastructure. The another way], which, freely translated While its main mandate is issuing activities undertaken in the areas of spells incongruity at its best. transport-related laws, proclamations, enlarging, upgrading and building new regulations and directives relating both feeder roads in the different sections Road Transport Administration to international and domestic road of the city represent an improvement transport services, it also has the over the previous years. Looking at the administrative structure responsibility of conducting strategic of the road transport sector, we find, as research and issuing directives and One glaring shortcoming of the roads the main actors, the Ministry of ensuring that they are implemented. built in Addis Ababa as well as in the Transport and Communications, the There are situations, however, in other cities and towns is that their Federal Transport Authority, the Road which the institution finds itself construction has not taken the social Fund Secretariat, the National burdened with the administrative and economic status of the Committee for Traffic Safety, and the routine of implementing the laws and communities into consideration. To Traffic Safety Department under the the regulations. In addition to such mention but one example, while most jurisdiction of the Federal Police. problems, there is a duplication of of the people in the cities are These government agencies have as activities between the federal structure pedestrians, or use non-motorized their main responsibility the designing and those of the regions as well as vehicles, such as bicycles, focus has of policy and strategy, overseeing the misunderstandings with respect to the been given only to the needs of motor sector's administration and facilitating monitoring and follow-up of vehicles, at the expense of the the availability of financial resources. implementation activities. One community's needs. This is tantamount fundamental reason for the atrophying to say that expending a lot of money What we have in this respect at the of the country's transport sector is the without targeting users or regional level are the respective total absence of institutions of higher beneficiaries. The ring road built regional transport bureaus, offices and education that cater to the recently may make sense from the other low-level departments. development of transport planning and point of view of keeping up with management. international standards. But if we look Among the government agencies in around our respective neighborhoods the transport sector, the topmost Another problem that one has to through which the ring road passes, we institution is the Ministry of Transport mention in relation to the structural see that overpasses meant for and Communications. In the years dimension of the transport sector is the pedestrian crossing are at least a following 1983, this ministry has fact that the country does not have a kilometer apart, which means that the undergone several name changes and national transport policy and strategy, elderly, the weak and children have to structural adjustments. Especially at which makes the sector different from walk a total of two kilometers to cross the time when the ministry was named the other sectors. This absence of a over from one side of the road to the the Ministry of Infrastructure, of the general policy and strategy impels us other. The alternative, it has been two branches of the transport sector, to raise one unavoidable question: observed, has become for the the service management and "What is the problem with the sector?" pedestrians to act illegally by jumping administration branch appeared to Beginning a few years back, the over the railings or, worse, pulling have been of lesser importance and National Committee for Traffic Safety them down altogether to make way for rather marginalized. At present, has opened an office under the shortcuts. We have observed the however, things seem to have assumed jurisdiction of the Federal Transport occurrence of several traffic accidents their former status. Authority and is working towards

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alleviating the problem of traffic reflected in the low-level performance to the kind of rural-urban interaction accidents. The measures taken in this of the country's transport sector, and the expansion of exchange in respect include: running a traffic-week because the level of a country's production inputs, increasing program; broadcasting educational economic development and that of its productivity, and the proliferation of programs on the radio and television; a transport sector are inseparably linked. market outlets. weekly program running every Our country's urban centers are highly Thursday morning on FM 97.1 desiccated, while their levels of The building of feeder roads in rural featuring discussions on traffic issues development are uneven in many areas, which has resulted in the as well as education demonstrations; respects. This has contributed to the deployment of low-capacity Isuzu and different programs in the form of loose and rather weak link existing trucks during the dry season to news and using other suitable between urban centers and rural areas, transport the farmers' surplus products methods, all of which must be which manifests itself in the to the market, is something that must acknowledged as good beginnings. performance of the country's transport be encouraged. The training and deployment of sector. student traffic police undertaken in When we look at the state of urban collaboration with traffic police When we look at the situation now, transportation, except for Addis Ababa departments in Addis Ababa as well as one phenomenon we observe is an and Dire Dawa and a few regional and in some of the other cities is uneven development of urban centers, zonal towns, we find that the growth something that must be maintained on in which a few towns, but especially and development of urbanization is an even broader scale. one city (namely, Addis Ababa) is very slow. Many of these small towns bloating out at the expense of others. are characterized by conglomerations There are various offices in the Such expansion of one city into a lone of dwellings with worn out corrugated different regions, with different primate city will result in an iron roofs and wooden walls. On the nomenclatures, whose responsibilities unbalanced regional growth. The other hand, however, we observe a are the administration and control of current federal arrangement, though certain degree of urbanization and transportation services. The attention expected to effect a balance in the urban growth in some productive given to the transport sector in growth of regional towns, the reality woredas. Oromiya and the Southern Regions is we see on the ground does not warrant very low and disorganized. Most of any such conclusion. The expansion of The case of Addis Ababa is as unique them are subsidiaries of one or another infrastructure development in the as it is complex. Addis Ababa is at bureau and performing at the level of transport sector and the growth of once the capital city of the country and departments or sections. This may modern transport services contribute the seat of Oromiya Regional only serve to exacerbate the problem greatly to the social and economic Government. It is also home to rather than alleviating it. Other development of the rural population. African and other international problems include: proliferation of There is, therefore, a need for building organization and embassies. Yet we regionalism; absence of coordination rural feeder roads, both paved and see a considerable imbalance in the or uniformity in the issuing of plates; gravel, to link major cities and area of transportation infrastructure, absence of the culture of information intermediate towns with small rural transport services, as well as supply exchange; and the arbitrary and towns. and demand. The burden of serving uncontrolled licensing of operators at the city's population, which is zonal levels. Alongside this, we need to expand, as estimated to be over four million, has is often observed in many of the fallen squarely on Anbessa buses not 4.3 The State of Transport Services African and Asian countries, exceeding four-hundred in number, in Urban Centers and in Rural intermediate transport services, or and on taxis (minibuses) that are said Ethiopia non-motorized vehicles and to be actively in service and whose technologies in the country's rural number is not more than 10000. Of the It is an established fact that 85% of areas. total population of the city, those with our country's population live in rural their own private cars number 50000, areas. This constitutes one of the Rural communities in Ethiopia still at most. All this adds up to the indicators for the low level of our use, as of the days of their communal disproportionately high imbalance development. Other than the fact that days, donkeys, horses, mules, camels between the demand-and-supply ration the rural population earns its and no less than these, their feet to in the city's transport system, livelihood through agriculture, a large commute between their rural habitats especially leading to traffic congestion majority of the people lead a hand-to- to the urban centers. This state of during the morning and evening rush mouth life. This situation is in turn affairs has become a stumbling block

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hours, which is by and large has become a model for both beneficial to our country are highly insufferable. African and Middle-Eastern regarded; countries; 2. The efforts it made in the area of The one branch of the road transport 3. Its ability to create among the traffic-management and control to sector that is hoped to alleviate the country's population a Good- ensure the safety and reliability of problem of transportation both in the Company Image, thereby being the country's air-space have been rural areas, as well as in the urban regarded as the country's highly commendable; centers, is the interurban transport ambassador to the world at large; system. Except, perhaps, for those 3. It has particularly demonstrated towns in the proximity of Addis 4. The great contribution it has made high capability in creating strong Ababa, especially and in terms of producing skilled and links and entering into agreements , which are served with professional manpower; with other country's, especially transportation at intervals of minutes, with the superpower United States 5. And a host of other virtues the services provided in between other of America, and strong European including: its capacity to generate intermediate and small towns is countries, such as Germany, France foreign exchange; its capacity to limited to a couple or so buses only. and Italy, in the process creating transform itself into a strong This kind of service delivery, as well favorable conditions for the competitor; its ability to create job as the quality and capacity of the development of our airline; opportunities for ; its buses, requires a radical change. ability to link Ethiopia both with 4. The opening up of country's air

Africa and the rest of the world; its transport enterprise for private 4.4 The Strong Points of the ability to register a steady and operators. Transport Sector sustainable growth in terms of

providing public and freight On the other hand, although it has only While the modern transport system in transport services; its contribution been three or four years since the our country is about a hundred years to the transportation of such Ethiopian Airport Administration took old, it has not developed as it should foreign exchange-generating export over from the Aviation Authority, the have. Of the different modes of items as flowers, gold, etc.; the big efforts it made in the administration, transportation, rail and water transport role it played in publicizing building and expanding the country's especially have been on a path of Ethiopia's tourism, culture, sport, airports is encouraging. Especially regression, with the former faring even art; the reliability of the sector's notable, however, is the achievements worse to reach a stage of total closure. traffic safety. made in the area of equipping the

capital's Bole International Airport With regard to showing improvement with the technologies used by the and growth, the level of the changes When we turn our attention to the developed countries and making use of registered in our air transport system country's twin institutions of Aviation their experiences, another achievement makes it the one area in which we Authority and Airport Administration, that is a source of pride for our should take pride. Although this we can easily see the contributions country. branch of the transport sector is only made by these institutions to the

60 years old, the level of development growth and improvement of the One can assert that road transport is it has currently attained is one that country's airline in terms of issuing everything to Ethiopia. The reason gives it pride of place both in Africa and implementing policies, strategic simply is that there is no other and around the world. Notable among proclamations, regulations and transport branch that is as close home its strong points is its capacity to directives, which all have served as a to the hearts of the people than this maintain a steady and sustainable basis for the airline's growth and branch in terms of providing services growth, with no trace of vacillating. development. Among the strong points for transporting passengers as well as Among the strong points observable in of the Ethiopian Aviation goods. In this regard, among the the area of air transport, one finds the Administration, we find the following: strong points of the country's road following: transport, we find the following: 1. Both air transport and aviation are

1. The high level of its application new technological developments 1. It has the lion's share (90-95%) and use of the results of modern both in our country and the world when it comes to transporting technology, in terms both of at large. Yet the sustained efforts of passengers and goods within the carriers and their accessories; the Aviation Administration in country; 2. The fact that its maintenance making this new technology tradition, knowledge and capacity

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2. The effort made in the area of 4. Absence of limits on the necessary to bring change both in building new roads and upgrading producing year of motor vehicles the management of and attitude and expanding the existing ones imported into the country; towards the sector; is highly significant; 5. Absence of strategic systems of 3. Create a system of coordination 3. The ability of the sector to create functioning transport service among the different transport jobs for many Ethiopians; sectors and agencies; agencies as well as the various modes of transport; 4. The high role it plays in bringing 6. The prevalence of measures that 4. In order to alleviate the problems producers and consumers are detrimental to our natural of traffic safety, the main agency together; environment resources; responsible for the task should 5. The improvement shown in the 7. The withering out of our rail bring about changes in attitude; level of our use of modern transport services; should be able to use the results vehicles for transporting goods 8. Lack of proper attention and and knowledge of modern and passengers; attitude toward non-motorized technology; change the 6. The initiatives taken, relative to vehicles; procedures pertaining to the the previous regime, to extend 9. The uneven distribution of issuance of driving licenses and administrative structures to the transport vehicles throughout the improve the laws affecting same; lowest possible level, thereby country, one result of which is intensify the awareness-creating effecting the principle of high traffic congestion in few campaigns; decentralization. cities; 5. Give greater attention to rail and public transport; 10. The relative expensiveness of 6. The government, the people and 4.5 The Weak Points of the transport unit cost per the private sector must give Transport Sector passenger/freight tonne; lack of attention to the protection and knowledge on the part of many care of our natural environment; In poor countries, such as ours, any operators about their running equip transport vehicles with social and economic activity is costs, except for a few modern modern anti-pollution gadgets; confronted with many problems and transport companies; constraints both internally created and 7. Use our domestic bodies of water 11. Problems of service operation caused by external pressures. These (our major rivers and lakes) allotment that does not problems can be taken care of through properly; discriminate between new and old structural changes in systems as well 8. Make changes in the low buses; as minor adjustment measure. This attention given to regional 12. Lack of effort in expanding urban being the case, it is easy to realized transport offices; transport; that there is a high level problem of 9. Give proper attention to non- 13. Denying rural transport the capacity limitation and lack of proper motorized transport vehicles both attention due to it; management initiative in poor in the rural areas and urban 14. The limited nature of the countries, such as Ethiopia. With centers; country's strategy with respect to respect to this, when we turn our 10. Give awareness-raising training withstanding the pressures from attention to our countries transport to operators with regard to countries with sea ports. sector, but especially to road, rail and keeping books for monitoring water transport, we find that the sector their costs; 4.6 Suggestions for Solving the suffers from many serious weaknesses, 11. Follow procedures to ensure Problems and Constraints of among which we find the following: balanced regional growth with the Transport Sector respect to transport services;

1. The country does not have any 12. Create an effective and 1. There must be both a joint and transport policy and strategy; transparent system of operation separate transport policy and 2. Adopting issuing to fire fighting between regional and federal strategy by which the various laws, proclamations, regulations transport agencies; transport modes manage and and directives; Problems of traffic 13. Since our country is landlocked, guide their activities; there must safety in the road transport sector; care must be taken to ensure that also be a mechanism by which the 3. Unlimited and uncontrolled the agreements our country makes policies and strategies are assured selling of driving licenses in our with neighboring countries are implementation; regions; strategic enough to guarantee that 2. In order to bring the desired they would not undermine our change in the sector, it is country's interests in the long-run.

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V. Projections on the change and growth will take place in example, the public transport services Transport Sector in 2020 line with the projections made. sector have not shown any change 5.1 Overview even after 45 years in terms of 5.2 Vision 2020 allocation and zoning. For reasons that Unless one is equipped with special are not clear, buses that have served natural ability to predict the future, it Thinking of doing something with for 30 and 40 years, and whose defects is very difficult, in this changing world positive attitude and optimistically and deficiencies are well known and of ours, to say with any degree of results in a spark of hope in the mind which, for that reason, are unreliable, certainty what turns things that are of the individual as well as in the are still in the market alongside new good or bad at present would take minds of others. And as long as hope buses, which are products of modern tomorrow. This notwithstanding, in does not change into mere wish, it technology and on the purchase of order to live on this earth, one ought to could enable one to achieve results. which millions of birr have been have a vision of some kind and work "Accordingly, the vision I have of the expended. The society today does not and live with some degree of faith and country's transport sector is as follows: want to be supplied with products hope. Because of the changing nature the transport sector will enjoy a fully covered with dust, socked by rain or of developments, it has been observed equipped infrastructure and safety soiled with mud, whether from the over the years when goals envisioned mechanisms; the country's citizens agricultural or industrial sector. Yet, at one time in a given present changed will enjoy maximum mobility in all there still are deficiencies to reckon either for the better or for the worse at the four corners of the country and with on the part of transport service another moment ahead. Similarly, in become beneficiaries of the results of providers as well as government our attempt to project what could modern technology. Our country's agencies. Workers or individuals who possibly become of our transport transport sector will provide all these forward innovative ideas are often sector in the future, we have to benefits and become a supporting held at bay for ulterior motives. The recognize that the state of affairs in the pillar in the social, economic and problem is still prevalent. Let me use other social and economic sectors of political development and, indeed, these observations, then, to venture our country plays a crucial role. move beyond that to serve as the core some predictions: Because, the fate of the transport of the transportation network for our sector, more than any other sector of Eastern Africa neighbors. 1. If our country continues the same the economy, is determined by what trend of operation in the absence of takes place in the other sectors. 5.2.1 What kind of transport sector any meaningful transport policy would Ethiopia have in 2020 if and strategy as it is wont to do the present situation continues now, we will fall under the pressure To the same extent there is a high rate to show the same pattern of of economic growth, the growth in the development? of the globalization that we see all transport sector increases with a high around us and find ourselves at the speed, because the backward and It can be generally said of our country tail-end of the rest of the world. If forward linkage between the different that we find it difficult to abandon the we continue along the same line sectors will increase. Conversely, the things, thinking and practices that we without changing our thinking and growth of the transport sector will in got used to yesteryear. We attempt, on pattern of operation, we will fail to turn contribute highly to country's the contrary, to change them into stand up to the challenges of the economic growth. To cite but one forms of our culture. Such tendency global market, and what awaits us example by way of corroborating this has contributed to our backwardness in will be nothing other than a claim, the one sector that made a many respects. What impelled me to debilitating collapse. significant contribution to the raise this particular point is the fact 2. The access we get to the sea ports economic growth of the United States that both private operators and of our neighbors could continue of America is the special increase government agencies in the transport with no guarantee of being reliable. made in the transport sector, especially sector have been sticking to the same 3. If the backward mode of operation in the area of road infrastructure trend of operation and functioning for in the area of road transport development, following the policies of the last forty or fifty years. Let me (especially among private operators John F. Kennedy. This much we are give you a good example. We are still and regional transport bureaus, as told by many scholars. Because the using the same operator-licensing laws also in federal agencies) continues linkage between the general economy that were issued in 1960/61. In the along the same line without any and the transport sector would result in past 38 years, however, we have seen improvement and without the mutual support, in which the one three regimes, each highly different necessary changes in our thinking, contributes to the other, the envisioned from the others. To give you one more over and above being the dumping ground for second hand vehicles

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from the developed countries, the country having made advances in 6. If we can manage to build future, I am afraid, will be one in every sector of its development. transport infrastructure and which the country will face a provide transport services to all serious problem in the area of Accordingly, then, the regions equitably and in a traffic safety. However, if the balanced manner, the 85 or so current trend in infrastructure 1. If the transport sector is given due nationalities will better develop development and investment attention and transport policies their sense of Ethiopian-ness and, continues, I see the future Ethiopia and strategies are designed both in the process, be able to as one with a better network of at the national and regional levels, collectively develop our country. 7. If we can give special attention to road transport. If, on the other Ethiopia will be transformed into our maritime transport and hand, our neglect of the country's a country with significant manage to get reliable access to natural environment resources improvement in many respects, a sea ports, we will have better continues as it does today, our fate, country in which the transport alternatives, and if we, at the I am afraid, will be the misfortune sector will be free from traffic same time, manage to change our of seeing an Addis Ababa accidents and contribute to the attitude towards rail transport and suffocating in a mass of polluted social and economic development the sector is improved in a way air. of the nation. that is beneficial to the country, 4. If nothing is done about rail and 2. If we could implement the we will then be able to avail water transport, what the future has international transport manage- ourselves of 3-5 lines instead of in store for us is a situation in ment and planning, the the usual one. which we will simply daydream government's transport institutional 8. If give due attention to the about fast train services and luxury structures both at the federal and expansion of non-motorized and passenger boats in a country that regional levels, as well as public transport services, it would has no alternative transport modes transport vehicle operators, will mean that better opportunities other than the road transport we operate and function fully will be created for the poor to have, telling to ourselves stories of cognizant of their rights, duties have a share in the social and what could have otherwise and responsibilities. economic benefits the country happened if . . . . 3. If our urban centers could apply provides. 5. If Ethiopian airlines continues to the transport management and 9. If the necessary attention is given operate with minimum government planning schemes in accordance to the development of rural interference and maintaining the with the modern land use plan, transport, our agricultural sector, rather than being the usual reputation, fame and activities it we could manage to provide subsidiary sector, will be enjoys at present, it could achieve reliable urban transport services transformed into one capable of the status of ambassador not only to the public both in terms of aiding and supporting the of Ethiopia but also ambassador quantity and quality. The worries country's economy as a whole. and symbol for the rest of Africa of both pedestrians and bicycle and all black people of the world. users about traffic accidents will ◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦ 6. If things are left to chance, the diminish and gradually disappear. problem of traffic safety that we 4. If the environmental pollution References now witness in the road transport caused by motor vehicles could sector will get even worse, be managed through the use of Agores, L. 1986. Transportation and Traffic confirming the slight "Do not drive modern technology and supported Engineering Handbook. USA. in Ethiopia," which was by environmental protection laws, The Federal Transport Authority. Megabit 1998. The 1998-2002 Strategic Plan pronounced some seven years ago there will be a situation in which (Amharic Text). by a reputed European journalist. the air, water, soil, plants and Grava, Sigurd. 2003. Urban Transportation animals will be free from Systems. USA: McGraw-Hill. 5.2.2 If measures are taken to pollution and human beings will Kadiyali, L. R. 2004. Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning. Delhi, India: Khanna change the current dismal enjoy a clean and fresh air. Publishers. situation 5. If we can manage to inculcate the Ministry of (Infrastructure) Transport and concept of modern transport Communication. February 2004. Annual The opportunity for achieving good management in the society and Statistical Bulletin. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Papacostas, G.C. and P.D. Prevedouros. 2001. results through making meaningful individual operators, the injustice Transportation Engineering and efforts is still there. If everybody acts we suffer due to the high cost of Planning, 3rd Edition. USA. sincerely and with a clear mind, there operation will be reduced. Rallis, Tom. 1987. Intercity Transport. Great is no reason why we cannot see our Britain: Unwin Brothers, Ltd.

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ROAD AND DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA

Bekele Negussie*

I. Background increases efficiency in Tehuledre District in the northern exchange/trade, highland zone.

ƒ Efficient road transport services There can be no doubt about reduce the price of domestic Summary of Findings of the Study the current gross inadequacy products and promote of Ethiopia's road network, whether this is measured in competitiveness in local and Domestic Transport terms of its density or quality. international markets, ƒ Expansion of road network Domestic Transport i.e. collection of contributes to economic fuel, water, food etc. in order to meet Road transport is the dominant mode diversification, enabling the households needs account for 73% and accounts for more than 95 percent exploitation of economies of of trips, 61% of travel time and 93% of motorized inter-urban freight and scope and reducing country’s of transport effort in the three study passenger movements. Yet, Ethiopia vulnerability to shocks. areas. has to its size and population a very limited road network, hampering The Situation in Rural Ethiopia The two most important components economic development especially in of this type of transport are collecting the rural areas. With only about water and fuel which together account A community without roads 37,018 km of roads (2005) available does not have a way out. for more than 89% of domestic travel for motorized vehicles, about 70 A poor man, and transport time and effort in three percent of the population has to travel Juncal, Ecuador study areas. Domestic transport for nearly six hours to reach a road. usually involves each household The overall condition of the classified making from 792 to 1,735 short network is also poor; currently only 39 The Village Level Travel and distance walk trips which involves percent of the whole network is Transport Study findings which form 1058 hours. identified to be in good condition. an integral part of the Road Sector Development Program were launched Women are largely responsible for If one assumes that a motorist travels in 1998, and are being implemented by transporting the domestic water, fuel at a constant speed of 80 km/h without ERA. Its finding was used to develop and other needs and this is usually stopping to rest, it would take him an understanding of village level travel achieved by carrying loads of up to 25 about 20 days to traverse the existing and transport problems which in turn kg on their back and, apart from Boset Ethiopian network. Whereas it would was used to formulate a pilot rural district, there is little use of donkeys. take the same motorist about 470 infrastructure project designed to It is estimated that domestic transport weeks (3290 days) to traverse the demonstrate workable solution to the takes between 20% and 25% of the American road network. rural transport problems. adult women's working time and In theory, improved road infrastructure comprises more than 80% of her can assist with promoting economic To achieve this, the study has focused transport burden. Only in Boset, growth in the following ways: on three districts in different areas of where there is a regular seasonal water ƒ Road transport provides physical the country namely Bako District in crisis, do men and donkey assist and access to resources and markets, south central highland zone, Boset substitute for women in domestic ƒ It widens the market and District in the central rift valley and transport. (see chart below)

______*Ato Bekele Negussie obtained his BA degree in Economics from Addis Ababa University in 1979 and his MSc degree in Transport Engineering in 1992 from Netherlands. He also participated in various short-term trainings. He has worked in the Ethiopian Road and Transport Authoriuty in various positions and now working as Planning and Programming Division Manager. In addition, he has conducted many research papers concerning transport, and in particular directely participated in the tenth-year research plan program of the transport sector.

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VLTTS Findings-Household Transport Situation 1200 1058 1000 Transport Effort 800 600 Travel Time

s 389 400 285 No. of Trips our 200 168

H 0 0 20406080100 Domestic Agricultural Services & Outside Percentage of Domestic Transport other places Needs Needs Time 78.3 80 80 75 70 70 64 60 60 50 % 50 40 40 Men 30 30 Women 20 5.9 10 20 0 10 Domestic Agricultural 0 Household Travel Household Effort Tones.km/Household/Year Gender Role

Agricultural Transport low averaging 8% of annual income into two phases (RSDP I and II). The across the study areas. This compare first phase of the RSDP ended in June with a 10% estimated annual travel 2002. The on-going RSDP II stretches Agricultural transport usually involves budget in Zimbabwe for instance. over the period 2002 - 2007. a smaller number of trips, ranging (Village Level Travel and Transport in from 87 in Tehuledere to more than Ethiopia, September 1999) Various donors including the World 200 in Bako and most of these are Bank, European Union, ADB, NDF, over a short distance to the fields This evidence and situation throughout BADEA, OPEC Fund, Governments particularly during the cultivation the country call for an integrated of Japan, Germany, U.K., Ireland, period. They, therefore, take up the systematic approach in tackling the Sweden, the Road Fund and the least amount of household time, an road sector problem in Ethiopia. have been average of, 285 hours per year. committed to the Program

II. The Road Sector implementation through provision of Travel to services, facilities, and the required funding. During RSDP II, Development Program other places an important partner, the Saudi Fund

for Development has also joined in The Government, in recognition of the This type of travel reflects the financing the RSDP. crucial role the road sector plays for household’s need to use social services the economic development of the and maintain its social network. It RSDP Objectives country; has set out a Road Sector tends to be burden free, involving, a small number of journeys over a Development Program (RSDP) to To restore and expand Ethiopia's road longer distance. Much of this travel is speed up the improvement and network, which has become an to destinations outside the kebele expansion of the road network. The obstacle and major impediment to usually on foot and when motorized program provides a comprehensive sustainability of the economic public service vehicles are used it is approach of integrating the development program. for destination outside the woreda. implementation of key road ƒ To improve the management of Travel to social services takes up on investments with major policy and the road network. an average 389 hours per year. As institutional reforms. ƒ To develop the capacity of such, this type of travel tends to be the domestic construction Industry. second most important user of travel RSDP is scheduled over a period of ƒ Overall: to contribute to poverty time while annual cash expenditure is ten years (1997 - 2007) and is divided reduction effort.

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Economic Focus Transport and Energy L±n a^×Ñì@KS

RSDP Target Investment priority criterion for building, policy support projects and selection of projects to be included in detailed design/design review studies, The physical target in terms of road the RSDP had been clearly pre- feasibility and EIA studies have been condition is to have, by 2007, 45% of determined during program undertaken for a number of projects. the roads in good condition (from 18% preparation and has been strictly The total cost of projects planned for in 1997). Also the Program aims at followed during implementation. execution during the same period selectively constructing new roads to Consistent to this criterion, both amounted to Birr 15.1 billion (US$ have 36 km/1000 km2 including lower Government and donor-funded 1.776 billion), while the total sum of class road and to install regular projects have been under money disbursed in the same period amounted to Birr 15.0 billion (US$ maintenance on much of the Ethiopian implementation since the launch of 1.741 billion); which is 99% of the network. In addition the road network RSDP. Several main trunk roads have planned target (see detail in Table 1). in terms of density per 1000 been and still some are being population is expected to be 0.50 upgraded/rehabilitated and new link In terms of funding of RSDP during km/1000 population in 2007. roads constructed to open up potential the eight years period, by category of areas in line with the country’s financiers, a little more than 50% has Status of Implementation of RSDP Agricultural Development Led come from internal sources (the Industrialization strategy (ADLI). Government and the Road Fund) while Eight years have passed since the the remaining substantial amount of commencement of RSDP During the eight years period, i.e. until implementation, which was officially funds (46%) has been pooled from the end of June 2005, a total of 14,536 km launched in September 1997. The of roads were constructed, international community. Specifically, Program involves a number of upgraded/rehabilitated and maintained the share of the Government of components including civil works, of which 6,848 km are federal roads Ethiopia is the highest (40%), capacity building, and policy issues and 7,687 km were newly constructed followed by IDA (25%), the Road with a view to bring about changes in regional roads. In addition to these, Fund (14%), EU (9%) and other the prevailing poor state of road regular routine maintenance on all donors 12% (government of Japan, network and improve the efficiency of types of roads were undertaken, UK, Germany, Ireland, ADB and the transport system in order to maintenance equipment and steel OPEC. See the Chart below for detail support the economy. bridges were procured, various studies contribution by financiers. including institutional capacity

Table 1: Physical accomplishment and Disbursement by Type of intervention (8 Years) W”Ö[» 1: ¾}Ÿ“¨’< Y^−‹“ ¾Ñ”²w ¨ÜÁ†¨< Average Disb. Average Acc. (km) acc./year % Target (mill ETB) disb./year % Target ¾}Ÿ“¨’< ›T"à ¡”¨<” ¨Ü ›T"à ¡”¨<” (uŸ=.T@.) ¾¯Sƒ uS„— (uT>K=Ä” ¾¯Sƒ uS„— ¡”¨<” w`) ¨Ü FEDERAL ROADS /¾ôÈ^M S”ÑÊ‹ 6848 102.5 12190.4 107.8 Rehabilitation of Trunk Roads 1590 199 83.8 4664.7 583.1 109.3 ¾›¨<^ S”ÑÊ‹ SMf Ó”v Upgrading of Trunk and Link Roads 1505 188 97.7 3389.8 423.7 113.8 ¾›¨<^“ ¾›Ñ“˜ S”ÑÊ‹ Å[Í TdÅÓ Construction of New Link Roads 1136 142 114.6 1467.3 183.4 104.4 ¾›ÇÇ=e ›Ñ“˜ S”ÑÊ‹ Ó”v Federal Roads Heavy Maintenance 2617 327 124.1 789.6 98.7 102.4 ¾ôÈ^M S”ÑÊ‹ ŸvÉ ØÑ“ Routine Maintenance ¾Kƒ }Kƒ ØÑ“ 1121.8 140.2 110.7 Others (including Institutional Support) 757.2 94.7 86.8 K?KA‹ (}sT© Ñ³−‹” ÚUa) REGIONAL ROADS ¾¡MM S”ÑÊ‹ 7687 122.8 2606.5 325.8 68.6 Construction, Maintenance & Others 7687 961 122.8 2606.5 325.8 68.6 Ó”v' ØÑ““ K?KA‹ COMMUNITY ROADS (ERTTP) 24.9 5.0 19.1 ¾Tu[cw;; S”ÑÊ‹ Start up activities ›ÇÇ=e }Óv^ƒ 24.9 5.0 19.1 URBAN ROADS ¾Ÿ}T S”ÑÊ‹ 173.1 21.6 362.9 Routine maintenance ¾Kƒ }Kƒ ØÑ“ 173.1 21.6 362.9 TOTAL / ÉU` 14536 112.3 14,995.0 1,874.4 99.4

Vol. 9 No. 4 38 Ethiopian Economic Association

Economic Focus Road and Development in Ethiopia L±n a^×Ñì@KS

III. Road Investment Impact movement also increased at higher The following chart shows the trend in rate. An assessment of traffic along population, GDP and traffic growth On Mobility main roads has revealed rapid increase during the RSDP period (1997-2005). in volume of traffic. Traffic growth It can be seen that traffic growth is When implementation of RSDP along the roads has increased and the mostly higher than the growth in started in 1997, traffic movement on growth rate is 8.4 per annum on population and GDP. Over the last 8 the road network was very low due to average, even though improvement years, traffic has been growing at poor condition of the network. When works have not been completed yet for 8%/year on average compared with a the condition of some road sections all roads under the program. population growth rate of 3% and improved in the course of GDP growth rate of close to 5%. implementation RSDP, traffic

Traffic ትራፊክ GDP Aህም Population የሕዝብ ብዛት 14.0 Linear (Traffic) Linear (Population) 12.0 Linear (GDP) 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 0.0 -2.0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 -4.0

-6.0

On Road Expansion & Quality with respect to area and population Program, the proportion of the road respectively. Overall, the road network network in acceptable condition has The total road network of the country in Ethiopia has been increasing on the increased to 65 percent and the road in at the beginning of RSDP was about average by 2.05% between 1951 and poor condition has declined to 35%. 26,550km with a road density of 0.46 1973, by 6.2% between 1974 and 1991 and 24.14 per thousands population and by about 8.1% between 1992 and As can be seen from the chart below, 2005. from 1990s onwards, the road network and per thousand square km respectively.

Due to the construction of new gravel has been consistently increasing, while On the other hand, the improvement of and regional roads during 8 years of the roads in poor condition were the road network in the country is RSDP, the total road network has consistently decreasing. This implies changing the condition of the network increased to 37,018km in the year that investment on rehabilitation and 2005. With a total land area of 1.1 slowly. In the first year of RSDP, 52% maintenance works in addition to million sq. km and a road network of of the road network was found to be in opening up new areas has played a 37,018km, the current road density is poor condition and only 22% was in crucial role in improving the network. 33.6km per 1000 sq. km and 0.51 km reasonably good condition. Owing to per 1000 population, indicating an on-going rehabilitation, upgrading and increment of about 9.5 km and 0.05km maintenance intervention under the

Total Road Network ጠቅላላ የመንገድ Aውታር ርዝመት Acceptable condition road

in km ተገቢ ጥራት ያለው መንገድ ርዝመት Poor condition road በኪ.ሜ የብልሹ መንገድ ርዝመት in %

40000 80

35000 70

30000 60

25000 50

20000 40

15000 30

10000 20

5000 10 0 0 1951 1969 1973* 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005

Vol. 9 No. 4 39 Ethiopian Economic Association

Economic Focus Road and Development in Ethiopia L±n a^×Ñì@KS

Other indicators of accessibility: A random road network model1 was also used to determine the extent of accessibility. A random road network can be described as infinitely long straight roads randomly scattered over an area. For a random road network, the mean distance to the nearest road is:

Area Mean distance (m) = ------x ½

Road length

For a random road network, the proportion of the area farther than a given distance (d) to the network is given by:

e-d/m where m is the calculated mean distance to the network.

Accessibility measured in terms of average distance from the road network and proportion of area farther than 5 km from an all weather road show that substantial progress has been made in expanding the road network.

Specifically, the average distance from a road has been reduced from 21km in

1997 to 16 km in 2005 due to the construction of new roads. On the other hand, the proportion of area farther than 5 km from an all weather road which was 79% in 1997 has been reduced to 73% in 2005.

The above result of accessibility has been tested by generating buffer zones on the existing network, in a map using GIS environment. Accordingly, buffers were generated at different kilometre distances (e.g. 5, 10 and 20 km). Upon this analysis, it was possible to estimate how much of land were within the specified kilometre distances from the existing road network. (See maps) Taking the total area of the country, The table below shows a comparison the result from the map confirms that of the percentage share of population about 27% of the country’s area is residing within 2km from an all- within 5 km from the road network weather road, in selected sub-Sahara (which validates the above result). African countries. Being a big country 1 ‘Some limitations to the opportunities for in size, Ethiopia registers a very small road investment to promote rural proportion of population residing development’ by JL Hine, International conference on Roads and Development, Paris, within 2km of an all weather road. May 1984.

Vol. 9 No. 4 40 Ethiopian Economic Association

Economic Focus Transport and Energy L±n a^×Ñì@KS

Table 2: Comparison of accessibility transport tariff per ton/km would country. According to results of the between SSA countries dramatically decline when the analysis improved road surfaces will W”Ö[» 2: ŸcG^ u‹ vK< GÑa‹ condition of the road improves. lead to faster and easier walking of both KS”ÑÉ ÁK¨< ¾x−‹ p`uƒ ”êê` people and animals. Benin u?’>” 32% As can be seen from Table 3, the cost Burkina Faso u<`Ÿ=“ óf 19% of transportation in the improved roads Transport tariff analysis derived from regression analysis showed that when Burundi u<\”Ç= 19% is much cheaper than those roads with no intervention. The freight rate on main roads gets rough transport of Cameron "T@\” 20% rough road is almost double when goods by animals is cheaper for short ‰É Chad 25% compared with the newly rehabilitated distance than vehicle transport. Ethiopia ›=ƒÄåÁ 12% road. Likewise, if we compare the However, for fairly long and long trips Ghana Ò“ 44% Addis Ababa - Djibouti corridor to even on rough main road transport of Kenya Ÿ?’>Á 44% Uganda and Rwanda (both land locked goods by trucks is cheaper than animal transport. When main roads are in Madagascar TÇÒe"` 67% countries using the port of Mombassa as the gateway to the sea), the good condition transporting of goods Malawi TL© 38% transportation cost from Mombassa to by trucks is cheaper not only for long Mali TK= 51% Kampala road is US $ 0.080 per ton distance but also for short distance Niger ’>Ë` 52% km, and from Mombassa to Kigali the trips. Nigeria (eight states) 47% price is US $ 0.098 per ton km, “ÃË]Á (8 Ó³„‹) whereas the price from Djibouti to For a 50 km movement one may Tanzania ”³’>Á 38% Addis Ababa is US $ 0.049 per ton expect the following freight transport Zambia ³Uu=Á 51% km. Thus one can infer that Ethiopia's charges: a) Main road: 8.55 Birr/quintal cost in Ethio-Djibouti corridor is quite competitive. The reconstruction effort b) Rough road: 19.35 Birr/quintal Impact of Road Quality on Tariffs in Ethiopia aimed at giving attention c) Animal Transport: 35.15

to Import-Export Corridor has resulted Birr/quintal Road transportation cost is heavily in massive improvement thereby dependent on the quality (condition) of reducing the freight rate & travel time, The difference in transport charges roads in the country. When the mainly along these routes. between main and rough roads is half condition of a particular road and cost of animal transport is more deteriorate transport tariff per ton/km Analysis of impact of road quality on than four times expensive than automatically doubles and triples animal transport was also made from the improved main road depending on the level of data collected in different studies carried deterioration. On the other hand out for different road projects in the

Table 3: Domestic Transport Cost from Djibouti Port W”Ö[» 3: ¾GÑ` ¨

Transport Costs, Fertilizer use and Ethiopia showed that South and North between yield and fertilizer use (See Effects Wollo have the lowest fertilizer charts below). A case can be application rates in the country. They established that the price of fertilizer is High transport costs would have an also are recorded to have some of the less and consequently the usage is effect on the selling price of fertilizer highest fertilizer price (which is partly high in areas where road network is to the farmer and thus discourage its due to high transportation cost). developed. use, which in turn suppresses yields. Fertilizer use clearly increase yield of Analysis of fertilizer distribution in crops and there is positive relationship

Vol. 9 No. 4 41 Ethiopian Economic Association

Economic Focus Road and Development in Ethiopia L±n a^×Ñì@KS

Yield qt. per Ethiopia. However distribution posts Teff ጤፍ ha. are naturally centred on roads with 20 መጠን good all year round access. Where

15 there are no roads those most in need

የምርት have to walk (sometimes for up to four

10 days each month) to collect their በኩንታል

የሚገኝ allocation and carry it back home.

5 Weak and infirm people will often

ሄክታር have to pay others to collect their 0 1

ከ allocation. - A better road network 0 0.5 1 1.5 Fertliser use qt. per ha. ሄክታር የሚውል የማዳበሪያ መጠን በኩንታል can enable distribution posts to be

located much nearer those in need.

Table 4: Comparison of Yield (qut/ha) Cost and fertiliser use ex south/west የማዳበሪያ ዋጋና Aጠቃቀም W”Ö[» 4: ¾U`ƒ SÖ” ”îî` (Ÿ<”M uH@¡`)

d ዋጋ e ¨<

th

[}

400.00 ¨<” Ñ>²? Ñ>²?

 ore roa S U`ƒ Actual f u ኩንታል project project S”ÑÆ S”ÑÆ S”ÑÆ (ÓUƒ) IM ®Ã’ƒ IM e With

300.00 ŸSW^~

uýaË¡~ (Assumed) (Assumed) Crop Type Crop Type  ¾} B

construction Ÿ}W^ u%EL Ÿ}W^ u%EL ¾ uòƒ ¾’u[¨< uòƒ ¾’u[¨< ንድ

A 200.00 የ Teff 5 12 12 100.00 Ö?õ 0.00 Maize uqKA 15 30 60 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 Wheat 7 14 24 cost per quintal per cost Fertiliser use/ cult area የማዳበሪያ Aጠቃቀም በታረሰ ማሳ ልክ e”È Impact of new Road on Productivity Effect on Emergency Food Distribution Generally transport service is not Before the construction the road did provided to rural areas because roads exist as earth road but no If we get the road, we could in these areas are only low quality transportation service was provided to get everything else; access roads and would result in high the peoples in the influence areas community center, transportation cost. Thus upgrading because of hilly, rolling, mountain-ous employment, post office, the earth road to gravel road has terrain combined with the impact of water, telephones. tremendous impact on agricultural and dust on vehicles. But after the A young woman, social development of rural areas. construction of the Chida- road Little bay, Jamaica Farmers need to produce enough to with high gravel standard transport feed their families and have some left services started to be given to the rural to sell. Thus availability of roads peoples in the influence area. IV. Future Plans in the Road makes it possible for them to bring in Sector the fertilizer and seed that will Ex-post evaluation was carried out by improve productivity. And roads make the African Development Bank in The road sector’s vision & mission is it possible for them to take their crops 2000 after one and half year since the illustrated in the following: to market. road opened to traffic has showed that the construction of the road has lead to Vision: ERA’s vision is to assure the A case in point is the construction of increase of yields by more than 100% provision of adequate and high quality the Chida-Sodo road with high gravel for many crop types (see table). road network to Ethiopians and open standard during the first Road Sector up all potential development areas in Development Program. To help those most in need all parts of the country. (particularly in times of drought) there is a comprehensive food distribution Mission: Provide safe, comfortable system run by the DPPC in place in and adequate road infrastructure to

Vol. 9 No. 4 42 Ethiopian Economic Association

Economic Focus Transport and Energy L±n a^×Ñì@KS

support the socio-economic develop- develop-ment programs have been areas are and/or analyzing how ment of the nation and satisfy road proved to be difficult and often failed connected or linked the system is. users by: to reach the poorer parts of the rural • improving the condition of roads population, due to lack of access. Using different methods of and Hence, there is a need to scale up the particularly that of graphic theory • expanding the network. current trend in order to arrive at the indicate that a total road length of most favorable accessibility/ 167,115 km (including community The investment on road to-date connectivity level countrywide. roads) is taken as a target for E.F.Y. through the program at hand (RSDP) 2020 on the assumption that it will has brought a significant improvement A number of possible approaches or give a reasonably good accessibility. on the size and quality of the network. models may be employed to identify The vision of the Ethiopian road sector However, there is clear indication that the optimum national network of the by E.F.Y 2020 should, therefore, be successful implementation of other country considering how accessible ‘to have about 170,000 km of roads’.

Table 6: Existing and Projected Characteristics of the Ethiopian Road Network. ሠ”Ö[» 6:- ›G<” ÁK¨<ና ¨Åòƒ S•` ÁKuƒ ¾›=ƒÄåÁ ¾S”ÑÉ S[w Ñî

›G<” ÁK”uƒ G<’@ (2005) Projected Situation for E.F.Y. 2020 Current Situation (2005) u›=ƒÄåÁ ›q×Ö` u2020 ÃJ“M }wKA ¾}ÑS}¨< Maximum Maximum Beta Gamma Possible Gamma Vertices Edges Possible Vertices Edges Beta Index Index Edges Index (v) (e) Edges (v) (e) Index SÑ“— ¾SÑ“ (e/3(v- SÑ“— ¾SÑ“ 3(v-2) (e/v) 3(v-2) Ÿõ}— (e/3(v-2)) ’Øx‹ — Ÿõ}— ’Øx‹ — (e/v) β β 2)) γ SÖl ¾SÑ“— (Ñ

V. Vision for 2020 class roads whose plan is remarkably Specifically the physical target by high even up to the year 2010. 2028 is to: In 2005, the Ethiopian Government • Reduce the inhabited land area committed itself to the formulation of The PASDEP roads component is farther than 5 km from all weather a five year ‘Plan for Accelerated and planned to cost Birr 43.2 billion (USD roads to 50 percent by the end of Sustainable Development to End 4.9 billion) which has been approved 2028- from the current 73 percent. Poverty’ –PASDEP- which runs from by the Government. Out of the total • Reduce average distance from all 2006-2010 (it is also in line with cost, federal planned expenditure is weather roads to 7 km by the end of RSDP). The road sector is one of the Birr 31.5 billion (USD 3.6 billion) 2028- from the current 16 km. key sectors identified by the while that of regions, community and • Increase the total road network Government to reduce poverty in rural urban roads is expected to be in the (excluding community roads) to areas, and expenditure allocation for amount of Birr 11.7 billion (USD 1.3 80,000 km by the end of 2028 from this sector has been increasing billion). the current 37,018 km. overtime. The PASDEP has also • Increase the road density to 73- 2 provided the operational framework The planned expenditure up to 2015 is km/1000 km and 0.62-km/1000 for scaling up efforts at the country about Birr 52.0 billion (USD 5.9 people by the end of 2028 level to achieve MDGs targets. The billion) - at 2005 price. Whereas (excluding community roads) - 2 vision for the E.F.Y. 2020 is planned cost up to 2028 is estimated to from the current 33.6-km/1000km consistent with these two plans and reach a crude amount of Birr 90.0 and 0.51 km/1000 people. would maintain the scaling up. That billion (USD 10.0 billion). • Increase the rate of good condition means the current trend of road roads to 75% for all road types by development will result in 75,000 km The following are a set of indicators the end of 2028- from the current of classified road whilst the difference showing targets at the end of 5, 10 and 39%. can be supplemented by the lower 23 year- plans (PASDEP, MDGs and Year 2028 respectively).

Vol. 9 No. 4 43 Ethiopian Economic Association

Economic Focus Transport and Energy L±n a^×Ñì@KS

In effect, classified road network is (Vision E.F.Y. 2020). It is to be noted improved accessibility compared with expected to increase by more than that community roads are excluded the existing accessibility level (about twofold by the year 2028. For instance from the analysis as these are not 50% are within 5km from a road)-. if we look at the average network included in the list of classified road Whereas 60, 70, 77, 82, 87 and 97% of increase per year for the past 54 years, network. the country’s area is expected to be (i.e. since the establishment of ERA) within 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60km one can see that about 686 km of road The projected level of accessibility from a road. (all types of classified roads) per year was also estimated using the GIS. The on average was added on the network. map below depicts the accessibility Most importantly, the quality of roads In contrast it is planned to level in E.F.Y. 2020 i.e. assuming that Ethiopia will have could be regarded construct/add about 1870 km of road existing towns would be connected to as the best measured by any terms per year to reach the target of 2028 each other -which shows a highly

Table 7: Target to E.F.Y. 2020 ሠ”Ö[» 7: ¾›=ƒÄåÁ òe"M ¯Sƒ 2020 Óx‹

) Policy Objective Indicator ÖsT>−‹

¾þK=c= ¯LT Ã 2020 2005 2010 2015 2015 2015 2005 2005 2020 2010

Óx‹ (S’h (S’h ¾u˃ ¾u˃ MTƒ ¯Sƒ) ¯Sƒ) Vision ¾MTƒ  (ÉI’ƒ” (E.F.Y.) (MDGs) KTØóƒ KTØóƒ eƒ^‚Í=) ` (¾›=ƒÄåÁ (¾›=ƒÄåÁ (PASDEP) ð×”“ ²Lm ð×”“ (¾T>K=’>¾S< (¾T>K=’>¾S< (Base Year) (Base Expand overall Road network (km)-excluding community roads road network ¾S”ÑÉ ›¨<` uŸ=.T@. (¾Tu[cw S”ÑÉ” dÃÚU`) 37,018 48,000 65,000 80,000 ›ÖnLà ¾S”ÑÊ‹ Road network (km)-including community roads ›¨<\” Tdóóƒ ¾S”ÑÉ S[w uŸ=.T@. (¾Tu[cw S”ÑÉ” ÚUa) 133,000 140,000 170,000

% of land area further than 5km from all-weather roads uuÒU u¡[UƒU ŸT>ÁÑKÓK< S”ÑÊ‹ Ÿ5 Ÿ=.T@. uLà 50 ¾T>`l x−‹ uS„— 73 65 56 Improve accessibility Average distance to all-weather roads (km) ¾›"vu=−‹” ƒee` uuÒU u¡[UƒU ŸT>ÁÑKÓK< S”ÑÊ‹ ÁK¨< ›T"à `kƒ 16.0 12.0 8.7 7.0 ThhM Time taken to an all weather road (hrs.) uuÒU u¡[UƒU T>ÁÑKÓK< S”ÑÊ‹ Là KSÉ[e 5.3 4.0 ¾T>ð˨< Ñ>²? uc¯ƒ 2.9 2.4 km per 1000 sq.km (excluding community roads) u1000 e£` Ÿ=.T@. ¾T>ј S”ÑÉ (¾Tu[cw S”ÑÊ‹” 33.6 43.7 59.1 72.7 ›ÃÚU`U) km per 1000 population (excluding community roads) Improve density K1000 c−‹ ÁK¨< ¾S”ÑÉ `´Sƒ (¾Tu[cw 0.51 0.58 0.70 0.62 ¾S”ÑÊ‹” È”c=+ S”ÑÊ‹” ›ÃÚU`U) SÚS` km per 1000 sq.km (including community roads) u1000 e£` Ÿ=.T@. ¾T>ј S”ÑÉ (¾Tu[cw S”ÑÊ‹” 120.9 127.3 154.5 ÚUa) km per 1000 population (including community roads) K1000 c−‹ ÁK¨< ¾S”ÑÉ `´Sƒ (¾Tu[cw 1.61 1.50 1.32 S”ÑÊ‹” ÚUa) Improve condition ¾S”ÑÊ‹” Ãμ Increase the rate of roads in good condition (%) uØ\ Ãμ Là ¾T>Ñ–< S”ÑÊ‹” SÚS` (uS„—) 39 65 68 75 ThhM

Road network መንገዶች Aውታር

Good condition road ጥሩ ይዞታ ያላቸው መንገዶች

in km በኪ.ሜ in % 90,000 80 80,000 70 70,000 60 60,000 50 50,000 40 40,000 30 30,000 20,000 20 10,000 10 0 0 2005 2010 2015 2028

Vol. 9 No. 4 44 Ethiopian Economic Association

Economic Focus Transport and Energy L±n a^×Ñì@KS

Institutional Constraints

More institutional capacity is needed to generate credible strategies, policies and programmes to transform higher expenditure levels into positive road development outcomes. The degree of decentralization of resources and responsibilities, mechanisms to define accountability systems are but a few examples of institutional factors that can determine sector’s performance in generating positive development outcomes.

On the other hand, improving the business climate is also an issue at hand. Looking at the worldwide construction market, recently, the Gulf area is taking the lion’s share due to the consistent rise in oil prices which

in turn has inflated construction costs. In this regard the lack of performing contractors and financial constraint due to the high price increase in construction cost could be a major challenge for Ethiopia.

Thus the Vision 2020 plan should also include an approach to identify the most binding human and institutional constraints, and develop sequenced plans for alleviating them.

[\]^[\]^[\]^

የየIIትትዮዮጵጵያያ sought in order for the sector to absorb የIኮኖሚክስ Challenges ahead Technical and Managerial Constraints high resourceየI flows.ኮኖ ሚክስ ባባለለሙሙያያዎዎችች While planning in such a large scale, Human capital is a key component in ማማህህበበርር AAባባልል concern is often raised about the the course of generating road በበመመሆሆኔኔ development. The availability of ability of the sector to absorb large EEኮኮራራለለሁሁ!!! amounts of public spending due to skilled manpower is crucial in the insufficient structural and institutional delivery of services; provision of capacity (assuming that all required adequate road being one. Thus financing will be secured in the short capacity building effort needs to be term).

Vol. 9 No. 4 45 Ethiopian Economic Association

Economic Focus Transport and Energy L±n a^×Ñì@KS

TRANSPORT AND ENERGY: PRICE ESCALATION OF FUELS AND MITIGATING MEASURES

Bekele Bayissa*

Abstract are implemented, especially, if country- transport (land and rail transport) wide biofuels programme is started and employs engines that consume diesel Energy is the driving force of all forms well developed like in Brazil, our fuel and gasoline. The air and sea of transport: land, water and air. This dependence on foreign oil could be transport obviously requires jet fuel shows that there is no transport if there completely altered and eventually the (kerosene) and diesel fuel, is no energy. The Ethiopian transport, country could become a biofuel respectively. There are no electric except the traditional system, generates exporting country. The measures could trains, trams, metros or trolley buses also help in the effort of poverty its power from one type of energy that could be run by electricity reduction through the creation of source, which is oil (petroleum fuels). As generated from our hydro-electric millions of jobs, generation of income in no oil resource has been found yet in the power plants. Local resource based country, and as no biofuels or any other billions of Birr, and development of the alternative fuels such as CNG energy resources such as electricity and rural infrastructure. (compressed natural gas), ethanol or CNG are used, the Ethiopian modern biodiesel have not been put into use transport sector is 100% dependent on 1 Introduction – 100% yet. Thus, the Ethiopian modern imported oil. Moreover, with the Dependence of the transport system is 100% dependent escalating oil prices, the small foreign Transport Sector on on imported petroleum fuels. exchange the country earns mainly Imported Fuels Moreover, the effort being made to through exporting agricultural products change this scenario is not so big and has almost become unable to finance the Energy is the driving force of all forms purchase of petroleum fuels. This has as the result no major changes are of transport, land, water and air; or all sharply increased the trade deficit of the foreseen in the near future. These, means of transport be it human, animal country much more than the past years obviously, make the Ethiopian or motor driven systems. Human and indicates a serious problem to come transport sector less energy secure and beings require food, and animals need if the price escalation continues and no less sustainable. feed to move themselves or other mitigating measures are taken. things from place to place. Motor 2 Growing Oil Imports and driven systems call for some type of Noting this worrying situation, the paper High Expenditures presents some proven energy source of energy, usually fuel, to technologies and other measures for the generate the power required to drive Ethiopia imports all petroleum fuels it transport sector extending to the their wheels or rotate their propellers consumes. The import volume has development of available energy or provide thrusting force. This been increasing over the past seven resources for mitigating the effect of the implies that if there no energy there is years at an average rate of 6.4% per problem. no transport. year and the total increase was 44%.

The increase in terms of value, The proposed mitigating measures are The Ethiopian transport system; however, has been in many folds with grouped into three. Energy efficiency except the traditional one that employs an average growth rate of 28% per and conservation measures are proposed pack animals such as donkeys, mules year and total increase of about 296% as the prime measures followed by use of and horses; generates its power from available local resources, and (i.e. three folds) during the same one type of energy source, which is oil developing alternative resources/fuels. It period (see Table 1). (petroleum fuels). The surface is argued that if the proposed measures

______*Bekele Bayissa is the current Board Chairman of the Ethiopian Network for Sustainable Energy Development (ENSED), which was established two years ago. He graduated from Addis Ababa University in 1981 with a B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering, and got his Post Graduate Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the University of Leeds, U. K., in 1993. He has worked in Matahara Sugar Factory, the former Ministry of Industry and East African Investment Securities Pvt. Ltd. Co. for 23 years. Currently, he is serving as the General Manager of Nigat Mechanical Engineering, S. C. His contact address is: Tel. (Mobile) 0911 45 68 98 or (Fixed) 0116 63 94 76; P.O. Box 1552 Code 1250, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; E-mail: or .

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Economic Focus Transport and Energy L±n a^×Ñì@KS

Table 1 Quantity and Value of imports of petroleum fuels has reached assistance the country gets from Petroleum Fuel Imported to over 7.4 billion Birr (USD 0.86 friendly countries. Ethiopia During 199/00 to 2005/06 billion) in 2005/06. With the recent price of 60 to 70 USD per barrel of oil, However, there are a number of the import value would be close to one options ranging from a simple MT) Year Year Value Value billion USD, which is the maximum conservation and efficiency measures Quantity Quantity Growth in Growth in Quantity (in Quantity (in ‘000 Birr) ‘000 Birr) (in export earning Ethiopia could achieve to a complex and time-taking in 2005/06 [2]. This implies that measures of developing alternative 1,023,605 1,876,760 export earnings would not be enough resources/fuels. Focusing on the 1999/00 to import fuel alone if the price transport sector, which requires the continues increasing. Thus danger is highest priority, the available options 1,096,429 7.1% 2,373,768 26.5% foreseen and eventual crisis looks may be put into the following three 2000/01 eminent unless proper mitigating major groups. These are: measures are taken. 1,122,223 2.4% 2,066,113 -13.0% • Efficiency and conservation

2001/02 2001/02 measures; 3 What Needs to Be Done? • Using available local resources; 1,232,380 9.8% 2,536,765 22.8% and

2002/03 The major sectors that consume • Developing alternative petroleum fuels in large quantities are resources/fuels. 1,248,092 1.3% 3,217,205 26.8% the transport, household and industry. 2003/04 2003/04 This is graphically shown in Figure 2. Each of these measures has a number Among the three major sectors, the of options to consider. Therefore, it is 1,406,898 12.7% 5,288,832 64.4% transport sector has the highest share

2004/05 found important to discuss each of (51%) of the consumption of them as presented below. petroleum fuels in the country [3]. In 1,475,122 4.8% 7,430,410 40.5%

2005/06 2005/06 fact all other sectors put together 4 Efficiency and consume less petroleum fuels than the Conservation Measures transport sector. 6.4% 28.0%

Average Average In the Ethiopian context, efficiency Considering that the intermittent oil Source: [1]. and conservation measures or exploration that has been going on in technologies may not appear very This high jump in value of imports of Ethiopia for many years has not yet productive for some people. However, petroleum fuels is obviously due to resulted in the discovery of oil, one they are in most cases the simplest and price hike. This is very clearly shown may be inclined to conclude that there the most cost effective solutions to be in Figure 1 below. is no option rather than continue taken within a short period of time for importing petroleum fuels, even by mitigating energy problems. As shown in Table 1, the value of diverting some of the development Depending on the sector/sub-sector

Figure 1. Import Quantity & Value of Petroleum Fuels Figure 2. Sectoral Consumption of Petroleum Fuels 5% 8,000 2% 7,000 Quantity ('000MT) Value (Million Birr) 6,000 2% Transport 5,000 20% Industry 4,000 Household 3,000 51% Electricity 2,000 Agriculture 1,000 Services+Others 0 20% 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 Year

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and the technologies applied, energy from the road. Consequently, it may 4.3 Discouraging Import of Fuel savings of many folds could be also sound to be class discriminatory. Inefficient Vehicles achieved. Some of the more relevant However, the intention here is simply and appropriate technologies for the to attain less fuel consumption by As mentioned earlier, all new vehicles transport sector are discussed here controlling fuel wastage. It has to be are not fuel efficient. Vehicles such as below. noted here that neither all old vehicles Hummer SUV even as new are fuel are too bad nor all new ones are too guzzlers (very high consumers of 4.1 Taking Inefficient (Fuel good. Hummer SUV, a luxurious fuel). Unlike many other sport and Wasting) Vehicles off the station wagon which is also one of the utility vehicles (SUVs) which have a Road most fuel inefficient vehicles of its fuel consumption rate of 8 km/litre or kind, is a case in point. The standard more, the Hummer is the least fuel Inefficient vehicles waste fuel set for the exam will also take the efficient SUV on the market [4] and considerably. Thus, prohibiting such objective condition of the vehicle has a fuel consumption rate of about 4 vehicles from operation would force population in the country into km/litre (10 mpg). Currently, the the unconscious or negligent owner to consideration. Thus, only very country has no policy that discourages maintain or overhaul his vehicle. This inefficient vehicles are taken off the the import of such type of vehicles. measure could bring about a road by applying this measure. The existing import duty tax only significant fuel saving leaving out its makes a small differentiation between important impact on reducing the 4.2 Changing the Mode of big and small car engine sizes, which problem of city air pollution and Transport is also a good measure to be improving the health of dwellers. It continued. However, this is not has to be noted that a car having a fuel The current common mode of enough for it doesn’t take fuel consumption of 10 km/litre when in transport in Ethiopia is road transport efficiency into consideration. good condition could easily go down where minibus taxis are used for Therefore, there is a need for putting to 7 or 6 km/litre when in poor intercity transport, and trucks for in place a policy that heavily condition. This means by up keeping, inland transport. These are very discourages the import of fuel maintaining and or overhauling the inefficient systems. Firstly, road inefficient vehicles. engine, it is possible to achieve fuel transport is very inefficient compared savings of 30% to 40%, which are to rail transport. On the basis of tonne- 4.4 Promoting Fuel Efficient huge amount considering large km, a standard rail moves about 30 Vehicles number of old and little maintained/ times more tonnage per unit quantity overhauled vehicles in the country. of fuel compared to a standard truck In addition to heavily discouraging the (road transport). That is a ratio of 1:30, import (and also local manufacture in Applying this measure may look which shows how much more efficient the future) of fuel inefficient vehicles, difficult for it requires observing the is a rail transport. Secondly, small there should be a policy such as tax condition of each and every vehicle. vehicles (taxis) are less efficient reduction that promotes the import However, it can be easily applied by compared to big vehicles (city buses) (and manufacture) of fuel efficient using exhaust gas analyzers and visual on passenger-km basis. Thus, there vehicles. Hybrid electric vehicles, a observation during the annual exam of should be a policy that promotes the new generation of vehicles that have vehicles. Vehicles with poor engine change of mode of transport from road an electric motor coupled with a performance usually emit dark, cloudy to rail (at least from seaport to inland) gasoline (or diesel engine) have high and polluting smoke. They can be and from small to big vehicles. fuel efficiency; more than 25 km/litre easily identified with the help of gas Moreover, in line with this, the project for medium size cars (see the analyzers and prohibited from intended to rehabilitate and expand the photographs of Toyota Prius 2006 and operating on the road or elsewhere Ethio-Djibouti Railway and another Honda Civic Hybrid 2006 in Figures until they are maintained and achieve private project intended to build a high 5a and 5b). Some new designs of the required level of performance, speed railway from Addis Ababa to small and light cars have a which may change from time to time Adama (Nazareth) have to be strongly significantly reduced consumption of depending on the condition of the supported in order to be implemented about 5 to 6 litres in 100 kilometres vehicle population in the country. soon. (20 to 17 km/litre). These vehicles are This measure may look designed with highly fuel efficient next to the the intention of avoiding all old cars hybrids and should also be promoted.

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Currently, all auto manufacturers power plants under construction. existing potential in the country. All world wide manufacture at least one Measures to be taken in this regard existing sugar factories have a plan to model of small and light cars that are may include using the following. expand and establish ethanol fuel efficient. distilleries annexed to the sugar mills. 5.1 Ethanol of Sugar Factories If all of them process their molasses Figure 5a. Hybrid car, Toyota Prius (Bioethanol) for Blending into ethanol, they would have an 2006 with Gasoline annual capacity to produce about 20,000 tonnes of ethanol or 25 million Ethanol is being used as gasoline litres. With the current gasoline import extender in many countries all over the of less than 150,000 tonnes, the total five continents of the world. The existing potential would be about leading countries in this regard are 13%. However, when the planned Brazil and the USA. Brazil has been expansion of the existing sugar using ethanol widely since 1975 for factories materializes, presumably gasoline vehicles and for vehicles after 2010, the ethanol production especially made to use neat ethanol could reach over 100,000 tonnes. Figure 5b. Honda Civic Hybrid 2006 [5]. This shows that there is a well Compared to the projected gasoline developed technology and long years demand of 200,000 tonnes for the year of experience in using ethanol for 2010, the planned ethanol production transport from which Ethiopia can would be about 50%, which is quite a learn and use the ethanol readily high proportion. available in the country. 5.2 Trolley Buses for City Currently, the Finchaa Ethanol Plant is Transport the only fuel grade (i.e. high purity)

ethanol plant in Ethiopia. The Finchaa Trolleybuses are the same as their Also there are vehicles that operate on Ethanol Plant has an annual counterpart diesel buses except for the gasoline blended with up to 85% production capacity of 8 to12 million drive electric motor and a small ethanol (E85) or methanol, called litres. The raw material for the Finchaa carriage or troller for gathering power flexible fuel vehicles. These vehicles Plant is molasses, a by-product of from overhead wires that supply can operate on any blend of E85 and sugar production. Although Finchaa electric power. They have the same gasoline and extend the use of has been in operation since 1998, it type of rubber tyres, a steering wheel, gasoline. Currently, Ethiopia has no couldn’t sell its product in a passenger seats and body structure policy that encourages the import of significant amount, until recently (see Figure 8 below). Trolleybuses do such vehicles by the way of lessening when it started exporting to Europe, not require a special track such as rail. import duty and other taxes or other because of marketing problems to the Conventional motor roads are means of providing incentives. local market. The planned initial end sufficient. The only extra use was for vehicles after blending it infrastructure required is overhead 5 Using Readily Available with gasoline to a level of about 10% electric cable lined along the route. (Developed) Local (called E10 fuel). In fact, the Municipalities of the major towns Government issued the Directive of should, therefore, consider employing Resources Council of Ministers of the year 2000 trolleybuses for public transport.

in order to implement the plan [6]. Addis Ababa City Administration There are a number of readily However, the directive couldn’t be should be a pioneer in this regard. available (developed) energy resources implemented yet because of the Using trolleybuses for the Addis that can be employed to mitigate the reluctance of both the oil companies Ababa City transport could save tens current price hike of petroleum fuels and the concerned Government of thousands of tonnes of diesel fuel and become energy secure in the organs. that would be needed to run the diesel future. Significant readily available buses. local resources regarding the transport The current annual ethanol production sector are bioethanol (or simply capacity of Finchaa is only 8 million ethanol) and the surplus electric power litres, which is only a third of the total to be made available from the hydro

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5.3 Electric Trains for 6 Developing Alternative million hectares (100km x 100km) Transporting to and from the Energy Resources/Fuels of mustard or rape farm in one Seaport season per year. Irrigation can Ethiopia has a number of energy reduce this farm land demand to Electric trains are similar to diesel resources that could be used for one half or a third by increasing the trains except that they are electric replacing the imported petroleum fuels harvest season to two or three, driven (see Figure 9 below). Currently, if sufficient development efforts are respectively. there is only one railway, operated by made. As agriculture is the basis of the the Ethio-Djibouti Railways economy, one big resource could be In view of this, although the cost of Company, in Ethiopia. The existing energy crops from the agriculture. production could be an area to be 2 railway transports goods from and to Sugar crops such as sugarcane for seen in depth, designing a national the and only covers ethanol; oil crops such as jatropha, bio-fuels programme could benefit about 7% of the total freight [7]. canola, rape, mustard, sunflower, the country by creating millions of There is an ongoing project intended castor-oil plant and others for bio- jobs and reducing poverty to expand and modernize the existing diesel; and other biomasses such as significantly in addition to saving railway. It is expected that the project switch grass or elephant grass for billions of Birr in foreign would use modern electric driven synthetic-like diesel could be exchange. In effect, it could be coaches and wagons instead of the alternatives to petroleum fuels. much more beneficial than the diesel driven old types. The switch flower industry which is currently over to the electric driven trains would On the fossil fuels side, the country booming in the country (see Figure save a large amount of fuel. has good proven deposits of natural 10). gas and coal. The prospect for Moreover, companies such as Mugher petroleum is also promising although • Develop the Calub and Hilala Gas Cement Enterprise, which transports no proven deposits are found yet. Fields and use CNG, wet products more than a million of tonnes of Thus, the following measures are and synthetic diesel for vehicles, cement and clinker to Addis Ababa, suggested to be taken for the industry and households; and should consider employing an electric development of alternative fuels. Develop the Yayu, Dilbi and Moye rail system in order to reduce the cost • coal and use the coal for cement of distribution and save the foreign • Support investment / co-invest in plants and others. exchange the country expends on bio-fuels (biodiesel and ethanol) imports of fuel and spare parts of and fossil fuels Figure 10. Biodiesel in bottles. hundreds of trucks. Ethiopia, being an agricultural country and having a lot of suitable Figure 8. Trolley bus for city land and climate for growing transport sugarcane, corn, millet or any other crop suitable for ethanol product- ion, the potential for producing ethanol is very huge. Similarly, the Biodiesel potential for producing oil bearing crops and, thus, biodiesel, is also very large. In fact, with the current low level of economic development Figure 9. Electric train for inland and proportional low level of fuel transport consumption, i.e. compared to other countries, Ethiopia can satisfy all its petroleum fuel demands from bio-fuels by allocating a small proportion of its farm land and land that is not used for food crop production. For instance, the total diesel fuel demand can be met by 2 “National” means “nation-wide or country- growing oil crops on less than a wide” here; it is not meant to refer to “Regional State”.

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7 Conclusions The recommendation regarding [5] IDRC (International Development developing alternative resources/fuels Centre, Ottawa) and United Nations As discussed above, energy is the is mainly a medium and long-term University, Tokyo, 1990, Ashok V. driving force of all forms of transport. solution that could bring about a Desai, Editor: Alternative Liquid If there is no energy there is no profound change to our energy system. Fuels, Willey Eastern Limited, transport. There are a number of Developing alternative fuels such as 1990. [6] Council of Ministers, 2000: Council options for mitigating the current price biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel, etc.) could of Ministers Directive on the hike of petroleum fuels and become make our transport system sustainable Production, Distribution and energy secure in the future. These and completely alter our dependence Control of Ethanol-Gasoline options could be categorized into three on foreign oil and even eventually Blended Fuel, Addis Ababa, April make the country a biofuel exporting groups - efficiency and conservation 2000. measures, using available local country if well done like in Brazil. It [7] Bekele Bayissa, 2002: "The resources, and developing alternative could also help in the effort of poverty Prevailing Fuel Crisis and resources/fuels. If properly reduction through the creation of Mitigating Measures" in Desta implemented, the suggested measures millions of jobs, generation of income Mebratu and Mulugeta Tamire could make a tremendous change and in billions of Birr, and development of (Editors), Proceedings of Energy make the country much less dependent the rural infrastructure. Conference 2002, Addis Ababa, 21- on imported oil. 22 March 2002, organized by In conclusion, it is, therefore, required Professional Associations Joint Energy efficiency and conservation to make further studies, design Secretariat. measures may look to make little policies, plans and programmes to impact in the first instance. However, implement the above suggested ±±±±±±±±±±±±± as discussed earlier, little changes and measures. Therefore, the Government upkeep such as maintenance of and other concerned bodies should engines and use of efficient vehicles review existing policies, plans and could result in large reductions (30% programmes together with THE TRAVELLER to 50% or even more). Efficiency and implementing institutions that would conservation measures are technically help to mitigate the problem of fuel It was on a cool and starry night the simplest and the most straight price escalation, and create a fuel As I lay back upon the dark grass foreword solutions that could bring a secure or even fuel exporting country That a thought passed through my mind. significant change within short period with sustainable development of the Amidst the blaze of the heavenly stars of time. Consequently, energy transport sector. I felt at a loss, efficiency and conservation measures The loss of a traveler in a strange land. are proposed as the prime measures. ♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦◊ The next measures are use of available A sudden fear flashed across my heart, A thought of things long-gone and things to come local resources, and developing References And my weary body shook and froze alternative fuels.

[1] Ethiopian Petroleum Enterprise, For I knew the world was no man’s land, Use of available local resources could Statistics Department, Addis Strange, unexplored, and always young. enable to switch to alternative fuels or Ababa, 2006. energy sources and make the country [2] Mekonen Kassa: Notes on National I thought at once of the distance I had gone And the distance yet to come, less dependent on imported oil and Energy Supply and Consumption, And with the sigh of a tried traveler 1995/96, Ethiopian Rural Energy more energy secure. The currently I let these words go forth: Development and Promotion available or developed major local Centre. resources indicated in the paper were “I am a traveler in a very strange land. bio-ethanol (ethanol), and hydro- [3] Tamirat G. Giorgis: “Reaching a “A traveler without a guide; electricity. These resources could be Milestone, Ethiopia Hits $1 Billion “A land without a path.” in Exports“, Fortune Newspaper, easily used mainly for the transport Vol. 7 No. 327 August 6, 2006, sector, the single major consumer of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Eshetu Chole, Something: The Literary petroleum fuels. [4] Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia, Magazine of the University College.

2006: “Hummer”, in 1(1962):72

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki.

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