Ethiopia Lets Foreign Investors Import Fuel Outside Domestic FX System

June 9, 2026

Mintesinot Nigussie

Embassies, international organisations and foreign investors operating in Ethiopia will now be permitted to finance their own fuel imports using offshore foreign currency under a newly issued National Bank of Ethiopia directive.

The regulation formalises the use of the Franco-Valuta system for refined petroleum imports intended strictly for institutional consumption, allowing approved entities to bypass the domestic banking system when sourcing foreign exchange for fuel purchases.

The central bank said the measure is designed to address longstanding regulatory gaps surrounding Franco-Valuta transactions, which had previously been practised under fragmented rules.

Fuel brought into the country under the arrangement cannot enter Ethiopia’s retail fuel market. The directive bars importers from selling the products to the public, transferring supplies to third parties or blending them with commercially distributed fuel.

Authorities also moved to tighten administrative oversight of the scheme. Importers seeking customs clearance must submit official confirmation letters from the relevant government institution specifying fuel requirements.

The National Bank did not introduce a fixed foreign currency cap for imports. Instead, the quantity of fuel authorised under the framework will depend on assessments made by the supervising institution regarding operational need.