What Is Causing the Fuel Shortages in Bali?

Several areas in Bali have experienced fuel shortages since Sunday, 11 October 2026, prompting long queues of vehicles at petrol stations.

Shortages of Pertalite and Pertamax have left residents with limited access to fuel amid their daily activities and high levels of mobility.

So, what has caused the fuel crisis in Bali?

The shortages in several parts of the island have been driven by rising demand for Pertalite, which has reached an average of around 2,200 kilolitres (KL) per day, according to Pertamina Patra Niaga’s East Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara (Jatimbalinus) regional division.

The high level of demand is one of the factors the company considers when managing supplies and prioritising distribution to individual petrol stations.

Ahad Rahedi, Area Manager for Communications, Relations and CSR at Pertamina Patra Niaga’s Jatimbalinus regional division, said the company was continuing to monitor fuel stocks and consumption levels on the ground to ensure smooth distribution.

“With the arrival of a fuel tanker, we are strengthening supplies of Pertalite and Pertamax to meet the needs of the people of Bali. We are continuing to optimise deliveries to petrol stations, taking into account stock levels and consumption rates in each area,” Ahad said in a written statement on Tuesday (13 October 2026).

To address the shortages, Pertamina is increasing supplies through the arrival of a tanker carrying 18,000 KL of Pertalite and 2,500 KL of Pertamax.

The additional supplies are intended to speed up distribution to petrol stations, meet public demand and ensure services continue to operate.

Pertamina has also scheduled further fuel tanker arrivals in stages on 12, 14 and 16 October 2026. The vessels are due to dock at the Sanggaran and Manggis fuel terminals, carrying a combined total of 26,200 KL.

Meanwhile, Bali Governor Wayan Koster said fuel distribution across the island began on the evening of Monday, 12 October 2026. He said efforts to address the shortages were already under way, with supplies being sent to various areas.

“Distribution across Bali began on Monday,” Wayan said, as quoted by Antara.

As previously reported, social media has been flooded with complaints from residents struggling to obtain fuel in Bali. Long queues of vehicles have been seen at several petrol stations across the island.

Many social media users have also posted videos showing lengthy queues at petrol stations in different parts of Bali.