Bali has spent the week queuing for fuel. From Monday 12 October, petrol stations across the island ran out of Pertalite, the subsidised RON 90 petrol that most scooters and cars use. Queues spilled out onto main roads, and many riders waited more than an hour to reach a pump.
Pertalite is supplied by Pertamina, Indonesia’s state energy company, which runs nearly every petrol station on the island. When its deliveries run late, there are few other places to fill up.
Where the queues formed
The first long lines appeared in Badung regency. Riders queued at stations in Kapal and Mengwi on the main road towards Gilimanuk, and in Sangeh, Lukluk and the busy Dalung Permai housing area. Most stations in Kuta and South Kuta were overwhelmed, and traffic backed up around them. One rider joined a queue at 6:30pm and reached the pump at 7:50pm.
By Tuesday the queues had spread to Denpasar and Klungkung, where Pertalite ran out and residents queued for Pertamax instead from 7am. Up in Kintamani, the highland district above Lake Batur, a queue of around 200m formed at a station on Jalan Raya Penelokan. Jeep drivers who run sunrise and black lava tours on Mount Batur, the active volcano that draws early morning hikers, queued to keep their vehicles running between trips.
Stations that ran dry
Jembrana, the quieter western regency around the port town of Negara, was hit hardest. About 14 stations there were affected, and several had no Pertalite or Pertamax at all by late afternoon on Monday. Some riders had to push their bikes home. Others paid around Rp 20,000 a litre for Pertamax Turbo, the premium fuel, and found that sold out too after a long wait.
What caused the shortage
Most of Bali’s fuel arrives by sea, at the Sanggaran terminal in Denpasar and the Manggis terminal in Karangasem on the east coast. Pertamina says a technical problem with a tanker’s anchor delayed berthing and unloading on 12 October until about 10pm. Its president director has apologised for the disruption.
Bali governor Wayan Koster pointed to delivery truck traffic and panic buying, which drained stations faster than they could be refilled. He has rejected claims that the island’s fuel reserves were sent elsewhere.
Supply on the way
Pertamina is sending 26,200 kilolitres of fuel to Bali in three shipments, arriving on 12, 14 and 16 October. Bali uses about 2,200 kilolitres of Pertalite a day, so those shipments add up to close to 12 days of supply.
- Stations in Denpasar and Badung have been told to open 24 hours, with Tabanan and Gianyar set to follow.
- Station operators have been asked to post clear information on what fuel they have and when they’re open.
- Police are at stations to manage queues and traffic, and are watching for hoarding or misuse of subsidised fuel.
- The governor says the situation should be back to normal within a day or two, and has asked residents not to panic.
Not the first time this year
This is Bali’s third fuel squeeze in about seven weeks. In late August, long queues formed in Denpasar, Badung and Tabanan, and Pertamina brought in two tankers carrying 34.2 million litres to clear them. In early October, a Pertalite delivery ran late again, with the next shipment due on 11 October. The latest delay came the following day.
Tips if you’re in Bali
- Fill up whenever you pass a short queue, even if your tank isn’t empty.
- Pertamax costs more than Pertalite but often stays in stock when Pertalite runs out.
- Allow extra time for airport runs, day trips and early morning tours.
- Buy only what you need, so there’s enough to go round.
Common questions about the Bali fuel shortage
Why did Bali run out of fuel?
A tanker’s anchor problem delayed unloading on 12 October. Delivery traffic and panic buying added to the pressure on stations.
When will fuel supply be back to normal?
Three shipments arrive on 12, 14 and 16 October, and the governor expects things to settle within a day or two. Supply may still vary from station to station until then.
Is Pertamax still available?
At many stations, yes. Pertamax usually stays in stock when Pertalite runs out, though some stations in Jembrana ran out of both.
Should visitors change their plans?
There’s no need to cancel. Fill up early, allow extra time on the road, and check with your driver or tour operator before early starts.
