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As nations strive to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and achieve fuel independence, Ethiopia is actively transitioning its transport sector away from expensive, imported petroleum. This seminar analyzes the shift toward Natural Gas (NG) as a viable alternative fuel. The discussion covers the driving factors for this transition such as Ethiopia's ban on importing second-hand vehicles and conventional fuel freight buses and evaluates the availability of indigenous natural gas resources to meet national transport demands.

The Faculty of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Bahir Dar Institute of Technology will host a seminar examining the transition of Ethiopia’s transport sector toward alternative energy sources, with particular emphasis on natural gas as a vehicle fuel. Presented by Destaw Belete, the seminar will provide insights into how energy transitions are being shaped by economic pressures, environmental concerns, and national policy directions. It will critically assess the suitability of natural gas in meeting vehicle energy demands, while also considering its environmental impact and practical feasibility. The discussion will further explore the broader implications of adopting natural gas, including system compatibility, infrastructure readiness, and the key limitations that may influence its successful integration into Ethiopia’s transportation system.

The main objectives of this seminar is  Enhance students’ understanding of diverse career pathways in Industrial Engineering.  Expose students to professional experiences from industry, aviation, consultancy, entrepreneurship, and academia.  Motivate students to proactively prepare for future professional and academic challenges.  Create awareness of innovation, systems thinking, leadership, and problem‑solving competencies.

Mr. Destayehu Addisu has successfully defended his PhD dissertation in specialization Mechanical Design under the Faculty of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University (BiT-BDU). His research, titled “Vibration-Based Assessment of Residual Elastic Properties in Impact-Damaged GFRP Composites Via Inverse Optimization Techniques,” was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Ermias G/Kidan from the University of Texas at Tyler, USA, and Dr. Addisu Negash from BiT-BDU.