DENPASAR, BALINEWS — Bali’s fuel shortage entered its third day on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, as long queues continued to form at several fuel stations across the island. Amid the supply disruptions, online listings offering Pertalite and Pertamax at sharply inflated prices have emerged on Facebook Marketplace and local buy-and-sell groups, with some offers reaching Rp500,000 per container.
A review of several online listings showed a wide range of asking prices, from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of rupiah, depending on the fuel type and container size. The offers appeared as residents continued to spend hours queuing at fuel stations to obtain supplies.
One listing on Facebook Marketplace advertised Pertalite in used mineral water bottles for Rp50,000. The listing featured several bottles containing green-colored liquid and was reportedly posted only a few hours before it was observed.
Another listing offered a mixture of Pertamax and Pertalite for Rp80,000, while a separate advertisement offered a container of Pertalite for as much as Rp500,000. However, the advertised prices do not necessarily indicate that the transactions were completed.
Similar offers were also found in local Facebook groups. In the group “Jual Beli Barang Bekas Anak Kost Kosan Bali,” an anonymous member offered three liters of Pertamax for Rp200,000, citing a location in the Tukad Batanghari area of Panjer, Denpasar.
Meanwhile, a member of the Canggu Community Bali group offered 1.5 liters of Pertamax in a bottle for Rp100,000. The seller claimed that the fuel had been drained from several personal motorcycles and offered free delivery within the Canggu area.
In Badung, other listings advertised fuel in small containers at prices ranging from Rp75,000 to Rp100,000 per liter, according to the observed advertisements.
By comparison, the official retail price of Pertalite at fuel stations is approximately Rp10,000 per liter. An offer of Rp100,000 for one liter would therefore be around 10 times the official price. The Rp500,000 offer, however, cannot be directly compared without knowing the volume of fuel in the container.
The online sales have emerged as fuel distribution across Bali remains disrupted. Long queues have continued at several fuel stations in Denpasar and surrounding areas, forcing residents to spend additional time securing fuel for their vehicles.
The situation has created an opportunity for some individuals to resell fuel from their personal supplies to residents who need it. However, no available figures establish the number of sellers, the volume of transactions, or the profits generated through these online sales.
Beyond the high prices, selling fuel in used mineral water bottles also raises concerns about safe storage and transportation. Fuel is highly flammable and requires appropriate containers and careful handling to minimize safety risks.
As queues persist and fuel distribution has yet to return to normal, online fuel listings have become another visible feature of Bali’s ongoing shortage. Further verification by the relevant authorities would be needed to establish the authenticity of the offers, the origin of the fuel, the actual transaction prices, and compliance with applicable safety and trading regulations.
