Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) has formally submitted a request for a 10-hectare plot of land within the Djibouti Damerjog Industrial Park (DDIP). The proposal, unveiled during a high-level meeting on March 19, 2026, aims to construct a 150,000-cubic-meter fuel storage depot during its initial phase.
The request was presented by Meleket Sahlu, Deputy CEO of EIH, during discussions with Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA). The proposed site is strategically positioned near the park’s main manifold and the Ethio-Djibouti railway line, a configuration intended to facilitate the direct transfer of fuel from maritime tankers to rail for inland distribution.
The initiative follows reports that the Horizon Djibouti Terminals, which currently handles the majority of Ethiopia’s fuel imports, has reached its maximum capacity of approximately 5 million tonnes. In contrast, the new Damerjog Liquid Bulk Port offers an annual dynamic capacity of 25 million tonnes, providing a significantly larger infrastructure base for regional energy logistics.
During the meeting, Chairman Hadi emphasized the strategic importance of expanding fuel reserves, noting the ongoing volatility in the Gulf region as a factor for national and regional energy security. The Damerjog project is part of a broader development plan that includes a 2.5-kilometer oil jetty and multiple storage terminals designed to serve landlocked markets in East Africa.
If approved and completed, the facility is expected to diversify Ethiopia’s logistics hubs and mitigate costs associated with vessel delays. The project aligns with existing bilateral agreements to integrate the Damerjog terminal into the regional railway network by late 2026, strengthening the multimodal transport corridor between the two nations.