For five days running, fuel queues in Bali stretched as far as two kilometers, and residents waited for hours with no certainty of getting any fuel. Into those lines, COCO Social Fund stepped in person with Ajik Ngurah Bobby to hand out nasi jinggo for fuel queues, along with drinks. The CSF team calls the aid simple and says it doesn’t solve the supply problem. But at the very least, it can ease the wait a little.
Five Long Days at the Gas Station
The fuel shortage began to bite around October 11, 2026, when Pertalite and Pertamax ran out at a number of stations. Reports put the queue in Karangasem at two kilometers on October 15, with some residents lining up from four in the morning, before the station had even opened. In Singaraja, some residents had to stop working because they’d run out of fuel and had to queue.
The impact spread to schools and offices. The Bali provincial government moved to online learning and work from home from October 15 to 17 in Denpasar, Badung, and Gianyar.
Nasi Jinggo for Fuel Queues From CSF and Ajik Bobby
COCO Social Fund stepped in person with Ajik Ngurah Bobby (I Gusti Ketut Artayasa, S.Sos.) and handed out nasi jinggo and drinks to drivers still waiting in line. Nasi jinggo is a Balinese packet of rice that’s easy to eat while waiting.
A wait that runs for hours can cut across mealtimes. The drinks ease thirst and the nasi jinggo fills the stomach, without drivers having to leave the queue.
Read also: Free Drinks for Fuel Queues: How COCO Social Fund and Kimnara Space Kept Residents Company in Line
Queues Start to Shrink After the Odd-Even Rule
At the Bali governor’s request, Pertamina applied an odd-even license plate rule for Pertalite purchases from October 17 to 19. Vehicles with odd plates were served on odd dates, and even plates on even dates. Pertamina also capped the fill volume per transaction. On the first day, queues at a number of stations dropped sharply.
Judged effective, the rule was later extended by the Bali provincial government through Friday, October 23, alongside work-from-home and online learning policies that were still in effect.
From House to House, Then to the Main Road
This aid continues CSF’s earlier collaboration with Ajik Ngurah Bobby. On October 10, they visited about 25 households in Kaba-Kaba as part of door-to-door aid. This time the aid went to the fuel queue, where residents were waiting for hours.
For any company weighing a CSR program in Bali, this is an example of responsive support: as soon as a public-service disruption appears, small aid moves straight to where it’s needed. For other social foundations in Bali, working with a local figure can make it easier to reach residents who need help.
Closing Thoughts: A Slightly Lighter Wait
Nasi jinggo for fuel queues doesn’t fill anyone’s tank. What it gives is smaller: one packet of food and a sign that someone is paying attention.
If you still need to queue for fuel through October 23, check your plate’s turn first, bring drinking water, and avoid waiting on an empty stomach. Rules can change, so follow official announcements from Pertamina and the Bali provincial government.
