2merkato
Saturday January 15, 2022
The Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway (EDR) said it has secured $86.13 million in revenues in the year 2021, showing an increase of 37.5 percent compared to the previous year.
In the year 2021, the 756km long railway has transported 77,357 containers between Ethiopia and the Djibouti Port.
EDR mentioned the implementation of a railway safety regulation in Ethiopia's Somali region since August 31, 2021, among other contributing factors, as the reason for the rise in revenues.
In 2020, the railway had suffered various incidents of vandalism and theft, they recalled. In 2021, however, no significant security related incidents have occurred, the officials said.
The railway's refrigerated train service helps Ethiopia export its fruits and vegetables to the international market. The railway's freight services also transport fertiliziers, wheat, edible oil, and vehicles.
Opened in January 2018 replacing the old metre-gauge railway, the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway is Africa's first fully electrified trans-boundary railway.
EDR currently transports around 25 percent of Ethiopia's export and import freight to and from the Port of Djibouti, which is entry point to over 90 percent of Ethiopia’s total international trade.