Vivo Energy, the Shell licensee in 16 African markets, today announced a collaboration with MTN so that Shell customers can now pay for their fuel using MTN Mobile Money.
Shell service stations will be ‘Cash-In’ and ‘Cash-Out’ points for MTN Mobile Money customers, with MTN Mobile Money being an accepted mode of payment in Shell service stations in Uganda.
The partnership will be rolled out across the whole country, where both companies currently overlap, but will initially start with 51 service stations.
Vivo Energy currently operates 120 Shell branded service stations in Uganda and aims to be the most respected energy company in Africa. MTN has over 10 million subscribers, with 7.3 million being registered mobile money users.
Hans Paulsen, Managing Director, Vivo Energy Uganda, noted that Mobile Money subscribers are growing by the day and is keen to add the service onto our convenient payment methods which include Visa.
“We are always looking for ways to add convenience for our customers’, making their lives easier. Today’s alliance confirms Vivo Energy’s objective of continuously bringing innovative solutions to our growing number of customers,” said Paulsen.
“We are confident that, together with MTN, we shall remain at the forefront of the industry and offer our customers the opportunity to use a convenient payment tool at our service stations which saves them the burden of moving with cash,” he added.
Mobile Money payment will help pump attendants at Shell service stations limit the amount of cash they hold, and detract robbers. It will also help to make Shell retailers, shoppers and motorists’ lives easier, and reduce queues at the service stations.
MTN Chief Executive Officer, Brian Gouldie, said: “At MTN Uganda we have embarked on a series of innovations to ease business processes. MTN Mobile Money is designed to make life easier by getting rid of queues, paper and the complexities that come along with payments in a cash-flow economy.”
“Our partnership with Vivo Energy offers us the opportunity to extend our proposition for motorists at Shell service stations who also have direct access to our growing network of agents. Being able to use Mobile Money at Shell service stations offers ease and convenience to customers,” he added.