In a move signaling broader participation in Ethiopia’s liberalizing digital fuel payment ecosystem, Dashen Bank has launched a seamless fuel payment feature through its Super App, becoming the latest entrant to challenge the long-standing dominance of state-backed platforms.

For nearly two years, Telebirr, along with digital wallets from the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and the Cooperative Bank of Oromia (COOP), served as the primary—and for a time, exclusive—channels for fuel payments in the country. However, Ethiopia’s fuel payment landscape is shifting under the weight of digital reform and policy liberalization.

The April 2023 national fuel reform, initiated by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, marked a turning point. Aimed at digitalizing the sector using cutting-edge technologies, the reform has driven major cost savings and transaction efficiency. According to State Minister Bareo Hassan, the digital framework has already enabled over ETB 430 billion in digital transactions and saved the country more than ETB 190 billion in costs.

“But this wasn’t a complete success,” Bareo acknowledged, noting that participation has remained limited to only a few players.

To address this bottleneck, Ministry of Transport and Logistics has been working on a grand digital fuel payment integration platform, in collaboration with Ethio Telecom and the Ministry of Innovation and Technology. The initiative invites broader banking sector participation—a call Dashen Bank has now answered.

The state minister welcomed Dashen Bank’s quick uptake of the initiative, hailing it as a sign of the private sector’s growing alignment with Ethiopia’s digital transformation agenda.

At a press briefing, Ayele Teshome, Dashen Bank CEO Representative, announced that customers can now pay for fuel at selected stations in just three clicks using the Dashen Super App. The bank plans to roll out the service nationwide in the coming weeks.

“Our fast and secure fuel payment feature allows customers to log in, select the fuel payment mini app, and scan a QR code to complete the transaction instantly,” said Ayele.

This service not only simplifies the consumer experience but also enhances operational efficiency for gas stations and offers new oversight capabilities for government regulators. Dashen’s mini app—nested within its flagship Super App—enables users to fill out a simple form and pay without friction, helping to modernize one of the country’s most essential consumer transactions.