DENPASAR, BALINEWS — Fuel shortages in Bali are disrupting daily activities, including the work of journalists who depend on mobility to cover news events. Vehicle queues at several gas stations have reportedly stretched from hundreds of meters to more than two kilometers.
Ayu Afria UE, a journalist with IDN Times in Bali, said she was forced to miss reporting assignments on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), after struggling to find fuel since the previous night.
Ayu said the shortage affected not only Pertalite, but also Pertamax and Pertamax Turbo, the types of fuel she usually uses. She had to visit four gas stations before finally managing to refuel.
“I went to four different gas stations, but none had fuel available, even though I don't use Pertalite. I use Pertamax or Pertamax Turbo,” she said.
According to Ayu, queues at several gas stations she visited stretched approximately 800 meters, while the queue along Jalan Imam Bonjol was estimated to exceed two kilometers.
She also described her experience at a gas station in the Teuku Umar Barat area, where attendants stopped serving customers because Pertamax had reportedly run out, despite vehicles still waiting in line. However, the station resumed service nearly two hours after she had left.
Ayu eventually managed to refuel at a gas station near McDonald's in the Pura Demak area, after visiting several other locations, including Sunset Road and an area near the airport.
The shortage directly affected her ability to carry out her professional duties. One of the events she had to miss was the opening of Climate Week at Prama Sanur.
Alternative transportation was also difficult to obtain. Ride-hailing motorcycle services were hard to book, while an electric taxi driver she interviewed said he was struggling to cope with the volume of orders.
After informing her newsroom about the difficulties, Ayu decided to monitor news developments from her residence instead of continuing her reporting assignments.
“My request is simple: don't make it difficult for people to get around. The economy depends on seemingly small things like this,” she said.
Ayu also questioned the lack of clear information about the cause of the fuel shortage, which she said had been noticeable for several months. She warned that inadequate public communication could encourage excessive purchasing, or panic buying.
IWO Bali Urges Pertamina to Restore Supply
Separately, Tri Widiyanti, chairperson of the Bali Regional Executive Board of the Indonesian Online Journalists Association (PW IWO Bali), urged state-owned energy company PT Pertamina to immediately address fuel distribution problems, particularly involving Pertalite and Pertamax, which have triggered long queues at gas stations across the island.
Tri stressed that fuel is a basic necessity directly linked to public mobility, economic activity and the sustainability of Bali's tourism industry.
“Pertamina must act immediately. People must not be left queuing for hours when they need fuel to work, earn a living, run businesses and serve tourists. This is not merely a distribution issue; it concerns the reliability of public services,” she said.
She questioned the apparent discrepancy between statements that fuel stocks were available and conditions on the ground, where residents continued to struggle to obtain fuel at several gas stations.
According to Tri, Pertamina should openly explain the distribution bottlenecks, Bali's actual fuel requirements and the target timeline for restoring normal supplies.
“If stocks are indeed available and the problem is only distribution, where exactly is the bottleneck? What is happening along the distribution chain, how much fuel does Bali actually need, and when will supplies return to normal?” she asked.
Tri also called on Pertamina to issue an official clarification regarding speculation about the possible discontinuation of Pertalite, which has been widely discussed. She warned that unclear information amid difficulties obtaining fuel could further increase public anxiety.
She urged Pertamina to accelerate the distribution of Pertalite and Pertamax, particularly to areas experiencing the longest queues, and provide transparent updates on distribution problems and the timetable for recovery.
“Do not wait until queues grow longer, economic activity is disrupted or public trust is lost. We urge Pertamina to take concrete action immediately and ensure distribution returns to normal as soon as possible,” she said.
Tri also called on the regional government and relevant agencies to oversee fuel distribution to ensure that the needs of residents and businesses are not neglected.
She warned that fuel supply disruptions in Bali could have far-reaching consequences, affecting workers, business operators, goods distribution and services for tourists.
Tri emphasized that the public needs clear explanations of the causes of the shortage and certainty about when distribution will return to normal, rather than simply being told that fuel stocks are available.
