AA Rano Nigeria, one of the country’s downstream petroleum marketing companies, has introduced Nigeria’s first fully automated and unmanned fuel stations, marking a significant step in the digital transformation of the fuel retail sector.
The breakthrough is the result of a strategic partnership between AA Rano and Petrosoft Limited, a Nigerian technology firm specialising in downstream oil and gas management solutions.
Through the collaboration, Petrosoft’s SmartPump technology will be deployed across AA Rano’s nationwide retail network, enabling motorists to refuel and make digital payments without the presence of fuel attendants.
At these stations, the experience is entirely self-service: drivers pull in, interact with a digital interface, complete electronic payment, and dispense fuel that is precisely measured and transparently delivered.
There are no attendants, no handwritten receipts, and no manual intervention, only automated, round-the-clock service.
According to the company, the innovation combines technology, convenience, and trust, qualities that have often been lacking in the country’s fuel retail landscape.
In a statement on Tuesday, AA Rano disclosed that the first batch of automated stations will become operational within January, with plans to gradually extend the technology to its network of more than 200 retail outlets nationwide.
AA Rano added that the system is designed not only to improve customer convenience but also to tackle persistent industry challenges such as fuel volume discrepancies, revenue leakages, and lack of operational transparency.
For Petrosoft, the project underscores the growing role of indigenous technology in solving local industry problems.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Joshua Denila, described the rollout as a validation of Nigerian-built innovation that meets global standards.
“Our systems are developed locally and built to international standards. They are designed to improve efficiency, from single stations to large fueling depots,” he said.
As Nigeria’s energy sector navigates deregulation, rising costs, and increasing demands for accountability, the unmanned fuel station represents a quiet but meaningful disruption.
Whether refuelling late at night or during peak hours, motorists may soon encounter a future of fuel retailing driven by smart technology, local innovation, and automation that never sleeps.
(Techeconomy)
