Shell petrol station staff go viral for selling coffee amid fuel shortages
A viral video showed Shell petrol station staff selling one-litre bottles of coffee at the pump as fuel supplies ran dry. Shell Indonesia said the move was linked to operational adjustments since late August but denied station closures or mass layoffs.
A video of Shell petrol station attendants selling coffee went viral on TikTok, drawing widespread attention. In the clip, uploaded by user @dxxxmaul***, two staff members can be seen offering litre-sized bottles of coffee to motorists at the entry and exit points of the station.
Promotional posters were displayed at the site, advertising discounts. Coffee, normally sold for Rp120,000 per litre, was offered for Rp60,000. Matcha drinks were listed at Rp80,000 per litre with a free bottle, while 250 ml ice chocolate or matcha drinks were priced at Rp25,000. The posters also indicated that bulk orders were accepted.
Social media users linked the unusual sales activity to the ongoing fuel shortages at Shell stations, noting that staff were resorting to alternative products to keep operations going.
Shell Indonesia responds
Shell Indonesia addressed the viral incident and the broader issue of fuel shortages. Ingrid Siburian, President Director & Managing Director Mobility Shell Indonesia, explained that the company has been making “operational adjustments” due to limited availability of certain petrol products.
“This includes adjustments to operating hours and the teams assigned to serve customers,” Ingrid told Kompas.com on 16 September 2025.
Stations remain open with limited services
Speculation had circulated online that Shell Indonesia was laying off staff following reports of fuel shortages. Ingrid clarified that there had been no mass dismissals but rather adjustments to working hours, working days, and, in some cases, the temporary placement of workers on leave.
“These steps reflect the limited operational activities that are currently possible,” she said.
Despite the disruption, Shell stressed that its petrol stations remain open. Ingrid said that while some types of petrol are unavailable, customers still have access to other products and services.
“Shell stations continue to serve customers with the fuels still available and with other offerings, including Shell Select stores, Shell Recharge for electric vehicles, workshop services, and Shell lubricants,” Ingrid stated.
Shortages of petrol products since August
Shell Indonesia has been facing supply shortages since late August 2025. Petrol types such as Shell Super, Shell V-Power, and Shell V-Power Nitro+ have been unavailable at several stations across Indonesia.
In a statement issued on 27 August 2025, Ingrid acknowledged that these products would remain unavailable for an indefinite period. This marked the second time in the year that the company faced shortages of key petrol types.
