OROMIA BANK LAUNCHES 'MILKII' APP TO JOIN DIGITAL FUEL RACE

May 3 , 2025.

Oromia International Bank introduced a new digital fuel-payment app, "Milkii," allowing customers to buy fuel on credit, at a launch on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Libya Oil Ethiopia's gas station near Mexico Square. Teferi Mekonnen (right), president of the Bank, pumped a vehicle last week alongside Yusuf Elmali (PhD), general manager of Oil Libya, and Assefa Seme (MD), board chairman of Oromia Bank. According to Teferi, the new app lets drivers avoid using cash when buying fuel, reducing the security risks associated with cash deposits at gas stations. The service began to be available at gas stations last week.

Milkii joined three other digital fuel-payment systems - Telebirr, the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), and the Cooperative Bank of Oromia - that were already operating. The latest launch signals the growing competition among banks and payment providers to capture the lucrative market of digital fuel transactions. Selman Mohammed, who manages the National Targeted Fuel Subsidy Project Office at the Ministry of Transport & Logistics, recalled that digital payment for fuel was first launched in April 2023. Over the past two years, the fuel market saw total transactions reaching 430 billion Br. Transactions processed through digital fuel payment systems exceeded 176 billion Br in the third quarter of the current fiscal year.

Selman disclosed that the Ministry has developed a new national app designed to allow fuel payments through all financial institutions, further simplifying digital transactions in the sector.

PUBLISHED ON May 03,2025 [ VOL 26 , NO 1305]