Fuel Stock Scarce, Shell Requests Extra Import Quota

KatadataOTO – Shell is one of the private companies currently experiencing a shortage of fuel oil (BBM) stock in Indonesia.

Several factors are believed to be the cause, such as problems in fuel delivery and distribution.

However, recently, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) revealed that several private companies have requested extra import quotas.

Besides Shell, other private fuel companies in Indonesia are Vivo and BP-AKR. All three are short on fuel product stock.

Photo : Shell Indonesia

In response, the Ministry of ESDM stated that private fuel companies have already received import quotas with the same scheme as in 2024.

In fact, for 2024, it was mentioned that all private gas stations received an additional import quota of 10 percent.

“For example, one million (barrels). In 2025 we will give an additional 10 percent, making it 1.1 million (barrels),” said Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of ESDM, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday (02/09).

As a result, customers of private gas stations need to find alternative locations that still have the required fuel stock.

To meet consumer demand, Shell needs to increase its import quota for this year.

“But if they ask for more, I say that our national supply is still available. So, a business-to-business (B2B) collaboration can be done with the national supply,” said Bahlil.

The company currently provides a real-time list of Shell gas station branch locations that have Super, V-Power, and V-Power Nitro+ fuel in stock.

Based on information accessed on the official Shell website, the number of branches with a complete product line is increasingly limited.

Photo : KatadataOTO

For example, in the Jakarta area, there are only 18 Shell gas station points that have Shell Super (RON 92 gasoline) stock, spread from the North to the East.

It should be noted that this can still change over time. A Shell attendant in Cawang, East Jakarta, revealed that the stock is running low in several places.

“Yes, there have been no more deliveries. It's been a week,” said the Shell attendant when met by KatadataOTO some time ago.