DENPASAR, BALINEWS — Dr. Drs. Agus Dei, M.Fis., AIFO, an academic and former senior journalist in Bali, has criticized what he described as the limited response from local leaders to fuel shortages and long queues at gas stations across the island. He said the Mayor of Denpasar and regents in affected areas should have taken a more active role in addressing the disruption affecting residents.
Agus, who spoke in Denpasar on Monday (October 19), praised Bali Governor Wayan Koster for personally inspecting gas stations in Denpasar, Badung, and Gianyar as fuel queues continued from Tuesday through Friday.
According to Agus, Koster's direct involvement demonstrated concern for the public. He argued that local leaders in affected areas should also have stepped forward to coordinate responses and assist in addressing problems on the ground.
“When the governor has already gone to the ground, the mayors and regents should show initiative. At the very least, they should coordinate with him and accompany him,” Agus said.
He highlighted an incident at a gas station in Pesanggaran, Denpasar, where tensions reportedly arose in the early hours of Thursday. Agus said the situation called for a more prompt response from local authorities, particularly to address the impact of long queues on residents and exhausted gas station employees.
Agus emphasized that his criticism did not mean the provincial government was solely responsible for resolving fuel supply problems. Referring to Indonesia's Law No. 22 of 2001 on Oil and Natural Gas, he explained that the central government has a significant role in regulating the oil and gas sector, while fuel distribution also depends on Pertamina's supply arrangements and operational performance.
He argued that the delays contributing to several days of long queues should be examined from a technical distribution perspective. In his view, it was inappropriate to place all the blame on Bali's governor.
“If we look at the facts, the long queues over three days were caused by technical problems at Pertamina, not by the governor,” Agus said.
Koster Praised for Efforts to Strengthen Fuel Supplies
Agus also commended Koster's efforts to coordinate with the central government and Pertamina to strengthen fuel supplies to Bali. He said these efforts were important to restoring normal distribution and preventing similar disruptions in the future.
Agus said plans were being discussed to increase the number of fuel transport vessels serving Bali from three to seven. Pertamina Patra Niaga was also reported to be increasing Pertalite supplies to a total of 48 million liters, with deliveries scheduled between October 7 and 17, 2026.
He expressed hope that the additional vessels and increased supplies would be delivered as planned and followed by consistent distribution in line with the needs of Bali's residents.
According to Agus, maintaining a reliable fuel supply is essential. Additional transport capacity would be beneficial only if supported by effective distribution planning, stock management, and proper monitoring.
He also called on Pertamina to be more transparent in communicating fuel availability so that residents would not be left uncertain when supply disruptions occurred.
“Pertamina must be honest and transparent about fuel supplies. People need clear information so they do not become anxious when fuel is unavailable at gas stations,” he said.
Calls for Pertamina Review and Stronger Local Coordination
Agus urged a review of Pertamina's performance, particularly its ability to ensure a reliable flow of fuel to Bali. He warned that fuel supply disruptions could affect not only residents and businesses but also the tourism sector, one of the island's main economic pillars.
He called on the central government and Pertamina to ensure that Bali's fuel requirements were adequately accounted for, including by maintaining sufficient reserves and reliable delivery schedules.
Agus also urged mayors and regents not to remain passive when problems directly affect their communities. Although the regulation of the oil and gas sector falls largely within the central government's authority, he said local administrations still have an important role in coordinating responses, monitoring conditions, and addressing the impact on residents in their respective areas.
He expressed hope that the recent fuel queues would serve as an opportunity to improve coordination between different levels of government and strengthen accountability in public services.
Agus stressed that Bali's residents need a reliable fuel supply, transparent information, and a timely response from all relevant parties to prevent similar disruptions from happening again.
