DENPASAR, BALINEWS – Long queues at fuel stations across Bali have prompted the provincial government and the Bali Regional Police to strengthen coordination to speed up fuel distribution and improve services for the public. Amid the ongoing disruptions, police have detained five people suspected of hoarding fuel and reselling it in small quantities using bottles.
The issue was discussed during the first official visit of Bali Police Chief Inspector General Pasma Royce to Bali Governor Wayan Koster at Jayasabha, Denpasar, on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Pasma said the police were ready to support the provincial government's efforts to accelerate fuel distribution and ensure smoother services at gas stations.
The support includes escorting Pertamina fuel tankers from the Manggis fuel depot to distribution areas and deploying police personnel to help maintain order and facilitate services at gas stations.
In addition to overseeing distribution, the Bali Regional Police are taking action against suspected fuel abuse. Pasma said five people had been detained over allegations of stockpiling fuel for resale in bottles. Further details regarding their identities and legal status were not provided in the available information.
Governor Koster said daily fuel demand in Denpasar and Badung reached approximately one million liters. The high demand was partly driven by residents returning to gas stations to refuel after previously experiencing difficulties obtaining supplies.
Koster had hoped the queues would begin to ease on Thursday. However, his inspections of several gas stations showed that some locations were still unable to provide optimal service.
The fuel shortage concerns have also been accompanied by a viral social media video allegedly showing the sale of fuel in plastic bottles at Kunti gas station on Jalan Kunti I in Seminyak, Kuta, Badung.
Denpasar Police Public Relations Officer First Inspector I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya said that, according to a statement from the gas station supervisor, identified by the initials AY, 45, the incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
At the time, the station had run out of subsidized Pertalite fuel and had only non-subsidized Pertamax available. An employee allegedly served several customers by selling Pertamax in bottles.
Adi said the gas station management had reprimanded the employee and instructed staff to apply the same rules to all customers. The station had also prohibited the sale of Pertamax in bottles and jerrycans.
The restrictions were introduced in response to the long queues and public concerns over fuel availability.
Denpasar Police urged residents to remain calm, avoid excessive fuel purchases, follow officers' instructions, and maintain order while queuing at gas stations.
Coordination among the Bali provincial government, Pertamina, and the Bali Regional Police is expected to help restore fuel distribution and ensure that public demand is met as authorities work to address the ongoing queues.
