DENPASAR, BALINEWS — Long queues at several fuel stations in Denpasar, Bali, continued for a third consecutive day on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, with no clear signs of easing. Residents were forced to wait for hours to obtain fuel, while vehicle queues stretched for several kilometers in some areas.
BALINEWS observations showed lengthy queues at several petrol stations, including those on Jalan Tukad Yeh Aya, in the Sesetan–Sidakarya area, near the Indonesian Navy facility in Sesetan, and beside the STIKOM Bali campus. In some locations, the queues reportedly extended for approximately three to four kilometers.
In the Sesetan–Sidakarya area, motorcyclists seeking Pertalite and Pertamax fuel formed a long line stretching to Jalan Ceningan Sari, near Burger King. The queue had reportedly begun forming at around 8 a.m. local time, even though the targeted petrol station had not yet opened.
A similar situation was observed at the petrol station near the Indonesian Navy facility in Sesetan, where vehicles lined up along Jalan Gurita, in front of Pegok Field in South Denpasar. Meanwhile, at the petrol station on Jalan Tukad Yeh Aya, some residents reportedly began queuing as early as 2 a.m.
Kade Ayu, 39, a homemaker interviewed by BALINEWS at one of the locations, said she had been waiting since 4 a.m., when the petrol station was still closed.
“Yes, Sir, I have been queuing since early this morning, but the petrol station has not opened yet. They said it would open at 9 a.m. This is taking up so much of my time,” she said.
Ayu explained that fuel was essential for her family's daily needs, including taking her child to school, shopping at the market, and supporting her husband's work.
“My motorcycle is almost out of fuel. I need it to take my child to school, go to the market, and support my husband's work. My husband is supposed to start work this afternoon after finishing his shift last night. What will happen if there is no fuel? He might not be able to work,” she said.
Amid the long queues, a street vendor selling fuel in small quantities offered Pertamax in 1.5-liter mineral water bottles for Rp50,000 each. Several residents who heard the offer immediately rushed to buy the fuel.
Ayu said she was fortunate to secure one bottle after competing with other residents eager to purchase it.
The vendor claimed to have brought only five bottles of Pertamax for sale to people waiting in line. He said he had spent as long as five hours obtaining the fuel before reselling it.
According to the vendor, the profit was relatively small compared with the amount of time spent queuing. Nevertheless, strong demand from residents in need of fuel encouraged him to continue selling it.
The lengthy queues have also disrupted traffic across several parts of Denpasar. Police officers and personnel from the local Transportation Agency were deployed to manage vehicles and prevent congestion, particularly along one-way roads affected by the queues.
Residents have urged the government and relevant authorities to resolve the prolonged fuel supply problems as soon as possible. They stressed that motorcycles remain a primary means of transportation for daily activities in Bali.
Some residents said switching to app-based transportation services would increase their daily expenses. Purchasing an electric vehicle, meanwhile, would require a substantial additional investment that remains beyond the reach of many people with limited incomes.
Amid the ongoing shortage, a message calling for a solidarity demonstration also circulated on WhatsApp. The message invited young people, university students, school students, workers, and other members of the Balinese community to voice their concerns over the handling of fuel supplies.
According to the circulating message, the demonstration was scheduled for 9:45 a.m. local time on Wednesday, October 14, at the Pertamina office on Jalan Sugianyar in Denpasar.
The organizers, as identified in the message, argued that the fuel shortage had harmed various segments of society, including students, workers, farmers, fishermen, and business owners. They called on the authorities to address the problem promptly and prevent it from dragging on.
As of the time of writing, long queues at several petrol stations in Denpasar remained a major concern for residents. The public hopes fuel distribution will return to normal soon so that daily activities can resume without further disruption.
