Addis Ababa Weighs Mandatory Shift to Electric Cooking for Restaurants

By Mintesinot Nigussie  |  September 14, 2026

Addis Ababa is considering requiring hotels and restaurants that use wood and charcoal for cooking to switch to electric systems as the city seeks to curb air pollution and reduce health risks associated with polluting fuels.

The proposed measure would target commercial kitchens that rely on firewood and charcoal to prepare food, according to Seyed Abdela, director of climate change and alternative energy technology at the Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Authority.

"Commercial establishments could be required to shift to electric cooking to reduce energy wastage, pollution and the health risks associated with wood and charcoal use," Abdela told Ahadu Radio.

The authority says burning wood and charcoal in households and commercial establishments produces pollutants that pose health risks. It has therefore been promoting cleaner cooking technologies as part of efforts to reduce emissions in the capital.

The authority did not disclose when the proposed requirement would take effect, how it would be enforced or whether businesses would receive financial or technical support to convert their kitchens to electric equipment.

For schools and similar institutions, the authority is promoting fuel-efficient stoves rather than an immediate transition to electric cooking. Abdela said the initiative is being supported through cooperation between the city administration and non-governmental organisations to expand access to the stoves.

Source: FSX Business News