MTN Partners Vivo on Mobile Money in Africa

MTN has joined forces with energy company Vivo Energy to roll out a points service system for the mobile operator’s mobile money customers.

Vivo Energy is a commercial fuel provider that operates across 16 African markets, and which distributes and markets Shell branded products.

According to a statement, MTN’s mobile money customers that refuel at Shell service stations in Botswana, Ivory Coast, Guinea Conakry, Ghana and Uganda would receive points for purchases made.

The five countries are the markets where the service would be rolled out first with plans to introduce it to other African countries where both companies operate, according to the statement.

The agreement stipulates that Shell service stations be ‘Cash In’ and ‘Cash Out’ points for MTN mobile money customers as well as will provide float to mobile money agents.

Furthermore, mobile money will be accepted as a mode of payment for products and services at the stations. In turn, stations will stock and sell MTN airtime through MTN mobile money.

David Mureithi, executive vice president for supply and marketing at Vivo Energy stated, “This alliance confirms Vivo Energy’s objective to continuously bring innovative solutions to our growing number of customers.”

“We are confident that, together with MTN, we shall remain at the forefront and offer our customers the opportunity to use a modem money transfer and payment tool on our service stations. Partnerships like the one we have established with Vivo Energy present an opportunity for MTN to make the lives of millions of MTN Mobile Money customers a whole lot brighter, by adding more convenient, easily accessible mobile money merchants to our already extensive footprint,” Pieter Verkade, MTN group chief commercial officer, added.

MTN operates in 22 African countries and the Middle East, with 207.8 million subscribers.