2merkato

The Council of Minister has approved the launch of the merger between the Ethiopian Petroleum Enterprise and the National Petroleum Depot Administration to form the new Ethiopian Petroleum Supplier Enterprise.

The merger will not affect the job description of the two enterprises but will allow for more coordination amongst them and an efficient use of resources according to sources.

The current board of the EPE, which consists of several high ranking government officials including Tekewold Atnafu (Governor of the National Bank), Alemayehu Tegenu (Minister of Water and Energy), Sufian Ahmed (Minister of Finance and Economic Development) is likely to continue as it is.

Yigzaw Mekonnen is to be the new General Manager of Yetebaberut Beherawi Petroleum after resigning from his post as Managing Director of the Ethiopian Petroleum Enterprise.

Yigzaw has been with EPE since he joined the Asseb Refinery in Eritrea two years after graduating from the Engineering Department of Addis Ababa University. He went to do a Master’s Degree in Management from the Open University of London.  

Yigzaw is leaving the enterprise at a time when it is restructuring to merge with the National Petroleum Depot Administration. Mekonnen Teshome, a senior manager at NPDA will temporarily take over from Yigzaw it was learned.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accounts is lobbying for the launch of a capital market in Ethiopia said Martin Turner Vice President of the ACCA.

The ACCA will consult with Ethiopian policy makers and regulators to support the establishment of a capital market in Ethiopia he said.

Ethiopia will need access to capital if the country is to grow its presence on the international stage according to Turner. The country could gain access to capital in many ways but a capital market is a very important element he noted.

The 3rd Metal and Engineering International Exhibition was opened in Ethiopia. The exhibition is targeted at promoting the metal industry sector and developing market relationships between the domestic and international metal institutions.

It is expected that the exhibition will serve as a platform to bring together those engaged in the sector.

Several project launched in Ethiopia as part of developmental initiatives such as the railway network, hydro electric power generating dams, sugar and fertilizer factories all require a significant amount of input from the metal sector according to Tadesse Haile, State Minister for Industry.