DENPASAR, BALINEWS – Bali Governor Wayan Koster has stressed that removing PT Pertamina (Persero) President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri is beyond his authority, amid growing calls from public figures and members of the Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) for Pertamina’s leadership to be held accountable for the ongoing fuel shortage on the island.
“Whoa, you should not ask me about that. Don’t ask me; that is not within my authority,” Koster said when speaking to reporters at the InterContinental Bali Resort in Jimbaran, Badung, on Friday (October 16, 2026).
Koster said the potential financial losses suffered by Bali’s tourism sector as a result of the fuel shortage had not yet been calculated. However, he acknowledged that the disruption had affected public activities and urged all parties to focus on restoring fuel distribution and services.
“It has not been calculated yet. Of course, there is an impact because it reduces people’s activities. So, let us focus on resolving the problem first and ensuring that fuel distribution and services run smoothly,” he said.
As of Saturday (October 17, 2026) evening, queues of vehicles were still reported at several fuel stations across Bali. Residents continue to seek certainty regarding fuel supplies, as well as transparent explanations from Pertamina about the causes of the shortage and the measures being taken to address it.
Calls for Pertamina’s leadership to take responsibility have grown louder, with several public figures and Bali legislators criticizing the handling of the supply and distribution problems. They have urged the relevant authorities to take concrete action to resolve the situation.
Bali public figure Gede Ngurah Wididana, widely known as Pak Oles, criticized the response to the shortage and called on government officials to fulfill their responsibilities to the public.
“Please, those of you who consider yourselves public officials, who are paid to manage the country and serve the public, remember that people work tirelessly and pay taxes to fund your salaries. Yet you still seem to be pretending to be confused, even though this is your responsibility, while people struggle to earn a living and pay your wages,” Pak Oles said.
Meanwhile, I Ketut Putra Ismaya Jaya, also known as Jro Bima, who chairs the Keris Bali Foundation and serves as chairman of the Bali provincial board of the Indonesian Unity Party (Perindo), called for Pertamina’s leadership to be removed from office, arguing that the company must take responsibility for the situation.
“Remove Pertamina Patra Niaga President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri. Pertamina must not shirk its responsibility,” Jro Bima said.
Similar criticism was voiced by I Dewa Nyoman Rai, deputy chair of Commission I of the Bali Provincial DPRD; I Wayan Bawa, a Bali legislator representing the Badung electoral district from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P); and Dr. Somvir. They called for accountability from the parties responsible for the fuel shortage.
“President Prabowo, just dismiss the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister and the head of Pertamina in Bali if they are unable to resolve this problem. Bali is internationally renowned and serves as a benchmark for Indonesia, yet something like this has happened. This is unacceptable,” Bawa said.
Tourism Sector Warns of Wider Impact
The shortage has also raised concerns among tourism industry stakeholders, who warn that disruptions to fuel supplies could affect transportation services and visitors’ travel arrangements.
Bali tourism figure Jhon K Purna urged the government and other relevant authorities to intervene promptly to prevent the situation from worsening. He warned that developments in Bali could attract international attention because of the island’s global tourism profile.
“Whoever has the authority to make decisions on this issue, please help Bali. When something happens in Bali, the impact goes beyond the national level; it reaches the international stage,” Jhon said on Friday (October 16, 2026), on the sidelines of the 15th Bali Regional Conference of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA).
According to Jhon, fuel shortages could disrupt tourists’ travel plans, particularly when drivers or travel agents are unable to obtain fuel for airport pickups, transfers, and sightseeing trips.
“Tourists arrive in Bali, only to find that their drivers or travel agents have canceled because there is no fuel. That is embarrassing,” he said.
Jhon also cited a possible decline in visitor numbers at Jatiluwih, a well-known tourist destination in Tabanan Regency. He claimed that visits had fallen by 30 percent before the decline reached 50 percent the following day. However, these figures were based on his account and had not been independently verified against comparative visitor data.
He warned that the impact could spread across various tourism-related businesses, including tourist transportation providers, restaurants, spas, and attractions, particularly those located far from major population centers.
With vehicle queues continuing at fuel stations and concerns mounting among tourism businesses, residents and industry stakeholders are calling for urgent measures to stabilize supplies and restore normal fuel distribution.
The public is also awaiting a clear explanation from Pertamina regarding the causes of the shortage, the current state of fuel supplies, and the steps being taken to ensure reliable service across Bali.
