Overview

120 Million+ (92.9%)

Population without access to clean cooking (Source: WB, 2023)

26+

Active clean cooking ventures (Source: CCA)

4+

Number of clean cooking RBFs (Source: CCA)

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Ethiopia’s clean cooking sector is undergoing transformative efforts to shift from traditional biomass reliance to higher-tier clean cooking technologies through coordinated government policies, stakeholder collaboration, market development projects, and support for local entrepreneurship.

The clean cooking sector in Ethiopia is characterized by a significant challenge: over 96% of Ethiopian households rely on traditional biomass fuels, mainly firewood (82%), for cooking (Europa). This reliance leads to severe health issues due to indoor air pollution, environmental degradation, and contributes to climate change, while also imposing a heavy burden on women who are primarily responsible for cooking and firewood collection

The sector is gradually embracing a range of clean cooking solutions, including electric cooking and advanced biomass stoves, though improved biomass cookstoves still receive considerable emphasis. Ethiopia has ambitious targets to increase clean cooking access to 33% by 2030 and modern energy cooking access to 21% by 2030, aligned with its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to climate change mitigation (NDC Partnership).

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Supply
Demand

According to World Bank data, 7.1% of the population had access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking in 2023, a slight improvement over the 6.9% who had access in 2022. In 2023, 23.6% of the urban population had access to clean cooking fuels, compared with just 0.3% of the rural population.

There is better access to electricity in Ethiopia: 55.4% of the population had access in 2023, same as the previous year (2022), and slightly above 2021 (54.2%).
There is a significantly wide gap between urban and rural population access to electricity (94.7% and 43.6% respectively) and access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking. This calls for a special attention and need for interventions.

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Policy

Click ‘Read more’ to explore relevant aspects of Ethiopia’s Nationally Determined Contribution and other current policies that are relevant to clean cooking.

Nationally Determined Contributions

Ethiopia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) explicitly recognizes clean cooking as a critical component of the country’s climate mitigation and sustainable development strategy. The updated NDC sets ambitious targets to increase clean cooking access and reduces emissions from traditional biomass cooking, which is a major source of deforestation, indoor air pollution, and black carbon emissions.

Ethiopia aims to increase clean cooking access to 33% by 2030, including through improved biomass cookstoves and modern energy cooking solutions such as electric cooking and LPG. Transitioning households from traditional biomass fuels (firewood, crop residues, dung) to clean cooking technologies is expected to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO₂ and black carbon, a potent short-lived climate pollutant. The NDC emphasizes the promotion of electric cooking alongside improved biomass stoves, supported by Ethiopia’s expanding electricity access and renewable energy development plans. The goal is to reach 21% modern energy cooking access by 2030.

Ethiopia’s NDC highlights the need for coordinated efforts among government ministries, development partners, private sector, and civil society to develop a comprehensive roadmap, investment plan, and value chain analysis for scaling clean cooking solutions sustainably. Initiatives like UNDP’s Climate Promise and collaborations with GIZ, SNV, and the World Bank support Ethiopia’s NDC implementation by enhancing institutional capacity, facilitating financing, and promoting clean cooking technologies.

Source Ethiopia’s NDC-2021

Tax and Tariff Data

This table shows Ethiopian Duty and VAT for clean cooking items, as of 2025:

Regional Trade Areas Official designation HS Code Tax or tariff Quantity Notes
COMESA Electricity HS 2716 MFN import duty 0%
COMESA Electricity HS 2716 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Electricity HS 2716 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Electricity HS 2716 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Electricity HS 2716 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 MFN import duty 35%
COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Excise tax is levied at a rate of 10% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Surtax is levied at a rate of 10% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 MFN import duty 35%
COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Excise tax is levied at a rate of 10% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Surtax is levied at a rate of 10% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Non-jet kerosene HS 2710.19.30 MFN import duty 0% Kerosene may be imported duty free
COMESA Non-jet kerosene HS 2710.19.30 VAT 15.0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Non-jet kerosene HS 2710.19.30 Other taxes and tariffs 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Non-jet kerosene HS 2710.19.30 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Non-jet kerosene HS 2710.19.30 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Propane HS 2711.12 MFN import duty 0% Propane may be imported duty free
COMESA Propane HS 2711.12 VAT 15.0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Propane HS 2711.12 Other taxes and tariffs 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Propane HS 2711.12 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Propane HS 2711.12 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Butane HS 2711.13 MFN import duty 0% Butane may be imported duty free
COMESA Butane HS 2711.13 VAT 0.0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Butane HS 2711.13 Other taxes and tariffs 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Butane HS 2711.13 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Butane HS 2711.13 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons — Liquefied — Other — Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or compound of Propane & Butane HS 2711.19.10 MFN import duty 0% Butane may be imported duty free
COMESA Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons — Liquefied — Other — Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or compound of Propane & Butane HS 2711.19.10 VAT 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from value added tax.
COMESA Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons — Liquefied — Other — Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or compound of Propane & Butane HS 2711.19.10 Other taxes and tariffs 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons — Liquefied — Other — Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or compound of Propane & Butane HS 2711.19.10 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons — Liquefied — Other — Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or compound of Propane & Butane HS 2711.19.10 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Fuelwood – Non-coniferous HS 4401.12 MFN import duty 0.0% Fuelwood may be imported duty free
COMESA Fuelwood – Non-coniferous HS 4401.12 VAT No information is provided
COMESA Fuelwood – Non-coniferous HS 4401.12 Other taxes and tariffs No information is provided
COMESA Fuelwood – Non-coniferous HS 4401.12 Other taxes and tariffs No information is provided
COMESA Fuelwood – Non-coniferous HS 4401.12 Other taxes and tariffs No information is provided
COMESA Wood pellets HS 4401.31 MFN import duty 0.0% Wood pellets may be imported duty free
COMESA Wood pellets HS 4401.31 VAT 15.0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Wood pellets HS 4401.31 Other taxes and tariffs 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Wood pellets HS 4401.31 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Wood pellets HS 4401.31 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Wood briquettes HS 4401.32 MFN import duty 0.0% Wood briquettes may be imported duty free
COMESA Wood briquettes HS 4401.32 VAT 15.0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Wood briquettes HS 4401.32 Other taxes and tariffs 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Wood briquettes HS 4401.32 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Wood briquettes HS 4401.32 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms – other HS 4401.39 MFN import duty 0.0% Wood waste briquettes may be imported duty free
COMESA Sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms – other HS 4401.39 VAT 15.0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms – other HS 4401.39 Other taxes and tariffs 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms – other HS 4401.39 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms – other HS 4401.39 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Charcoal, other wood HS 4402.90 MFN import duty 0.0% Wood charcoal may be imported duty free
COMESA Charcoal, other wood HS 4402.90 VAT 15.0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Charcoal, other wood HS 4402.90 Other taxes and tariffs 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Charcoal, other wood HS 4402.90 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Charcoal, other wood HS 4402.90 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Charcoal, of bamboo HS 4402.10 MFN import duty 0.0% Bamboo charcoal may be imported duty free
COMESA Charcoal, of bamboo HS 4402.10 VAT 15.0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Charcoal, of bamboo HS 4402.10 Other taxes and tariffs 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Charcoal, of bamboo HS 4402.10 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Charcoal, of bamboo HS 4402.10 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Charcoal, of shell or nut HS 4402.20 MFN import duty 0.0% Shell or nut charcoal may be imported duty free
COMESA Charcoal, of shell or nut HS 4402.20 VAT 15.0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Charcoal, of shell or nut HS 4402.20 Other taxes and tariffs 0.0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Charcoal, of shell or nut HS 4402.20 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Charcoal, of shell or nut HS 4402.20 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Social welfare levy is levied at a rate of 3% of the CIF-value.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for gas fuel or gas + other fuels HS 7321.11 MFN import duty 35%
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for gas fuel or gas + other fuels — Presented completely knocked down (CKD) or unassembled for the assembly industry. HS 7321.11.11 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for gas fuel or gas + other fuels — Presented completely knocked down (CKD) or unassembled for the assembly industry. HS 7321.11.11 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Surtax is levied at a rate of 10% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for gas fuel or gas + other fuels — Presented completely knocked down (CKD) or unassembled for the assembly industry. HS 7321.11.11 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for gas fuel or gas + other fuels — Presented completely knocked down (CKD) or unassembled for the assembly industry. HS 7321.11.11 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for liquid fuels — With a maximum of two burners HS 7321.12.10 MFN import duty 35%
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for liquid fuels — With a maximum of two burners HS 7321.12.10 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for liquid fuels — With a maximum of two burners HS 7321.12.10 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Surtax is levied at a rate of 10% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for liquid fuels — With a maximum of two burners HS 7321.12.10 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for liquid fuels — With a maximum of two burners HS 7321.12.10 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, including for solid fuels HS 7321.19 MFN import duty 35%
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, including for solid fuels HS 7321.19 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, including for solid fuels HS 7321.19 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Surtax is levied at a rate of 10% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, including for solid fuels HS 7321.19 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, including for solid fuels HS 7321.19 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Other appliances — for gas or gas+ HS 7321.81 VAT 35%
COMESA Other appliances — for gas or gas+ HS 7321.81 Other taxes and tariffs 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Other appliances — for gas or gas+ HS 7321.81 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Surtax is levied at a rate of 10% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Other appliances — for gas or gas+ HS 7321.81 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Other appliances — for gas or gas+ HS 7321.81 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Other appliances — for liquid fuels HS 7321.82 MFN import duty 35%
COMESA Other appliances — for liquid fuels HS 7321.82 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Other appliances — for liquid fuels HS 7321.82 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Surtax is levied at a rate of 10% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Other appliances — for liquid fuels HS 7321.82 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Other appliances — for liquid fuels HS 7321.82 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Other appliances — for solid fuels HS 7321.89 MFN import duty 35%
COMESA Other appliances — for solid fuels HS 7321.89 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Other appliances — for solid fuels HS 7321.89 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Surtax is levied at a rate of 10% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Other appliances — for solid fuels HS 7321.89 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Other appliances — for solid fuels HS 7321.89 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Parts for cooking appliances and plate warmers HS 7321.90 MFN import duty 15%
COMESA Parts for cooking appliances and plate warmers HS 7321.90 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Parts for cooking appliances and plate warmers HS 7321.90 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Parts for cooking appliances and plate warmers HS 7321.90 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Parts for cooking appliances and plate warmers HS 7321.90 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Microwave ovens – Presented SKD for the assembly industry HS 8516.50.10 MFN import duty 25.0%
COMESA Microwave ovens – Presented SKD for the assembly industry HS 8516.50.10 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Microwave ovens – Presented SKD for the assembly industry HS 8516.50.10 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Microwave ovens – Presented SKD for the assembly industry HS 8516.50.10 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Microwave ovens – Presented SKD for the assembly industry HS 8516.50.10 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Microwave ovens – Other HS 8516.50.90 MFN import duty 35.0%
COMESA Microwave ovens – Other HS 8516.50.90 VAT 15% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 15% of the duty paid value.
COMESA Microwave ovens – Other HS 8516.50.90 Other taxes and tariffs 10% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from surtax.
COMESA Microwave ovens – Other HS 8516.50.90 Other taxes and tariffs 3% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 3% of the dutiable value.
COMESA Microwave ovens – Other HS 8516.50.90 Other taxes and tariffs 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from social welfare levy.
COMESA Other ovens; cooking stoves, ranges, cooking plates, boiling rings, grillers and roasters — Presented completely knocked down (CKD) or unassembled for the assembly industry HS 8516.60.10 MFN import duty No information is provided
COMESA Other ovens; cooking stoves, ranges, cooking plates, boiling rings, grillers and roasters — Presented completely knocked down (CKD) or unassembled for the assembly industry HS 8516.60.10 VAT No information is provided

DATA SOURCES:

Data Source Link to Source
Tariff book 2019 version Section I
Commercial guide Ethiopia – Import Tariffs
Ethiopia Tax Summary Ethiopia – Corporate – Other taxes
Social Welfare & other taxes Social-Welfare-Levy-1.pdf
Ethiopia Excise Tax Amendment Ethiopia issues Excise Tax (Amendment) Proclamation, 2023 | EY – Global
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Carbon

Ethiopia has 32 registered cookstove projects. These projects have generated 0.9 million carbon credits to date.

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  • Total Credits Issued: 863,783
  • Total Credits Retired: 9,158,813
  • Number of Projects: 32 (30 GS + 2VCS)
  • Number of Project Developers: 14

Source: Voluntary Registry Offsets Database (Berkeley Carbon Trading Project)

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Results Based Finance
Name Lead Status Dates Applicable Fuels Fund size for clean cooking Total fund size
EnDEv/DFID RBF for Biomass Stoves EnDev/DFID Completed 2013-2017 Biomass €1.4M €3M
WB Clean Cooking RBA/RBF Pilot MoWE/World Bank Completed 2019-2022 Biomass, Electric, LPG $5M $30M(planned scale)
SNV HTCC RBF Pilot SNV/EU-GIZ-RVO Active 2023-2025 Pellet, Electric, Biomass €2M €2-3M
SNV/GIZ Market Enhancement RBF SNV/GIZ EnDev Active 2024-2026(est) Electric, Pellet, Ethanol €4-6M €6-8M
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