Bali’s Fuel Crisis: What Happened and Is Everything Back to Normal?

Long queues formed at petrol stations across Bali in October 2026.The disruption affected both residents and visitors. For many, getting fuel became a major challenge.

If you were in Bali last week, you probably noticed the queues outside petrol stations, or even spent hours in one yourself. For those planning a trip here, the videos may have had you wondering whether you’ll still be able to complete your travel plans. So, let’s take a look at what’s been reported and what you need to know if you’re living or travelling in Bali.

Problems Brewing

As early as the beginning of October, problems were already brewing. In a written statement received by detikBali on October 8th, Pertamina acknowledged earlier delays in Pertalite deliveries, but said supplies had arrived on October 7th. The report described queues over the preceding days in Denpasar and South Kuta, with some stations running out of Pertamax, too.

Fuel delivery delays contributed to the disruption across Bali.Tanker difficulties and bad weather affected distribution. Officials said the main issue was getting fuel to stations.

According to officials quoted by the Associated Press on the 14th of October, several problems came together to create the crisis. A tanker had difficulties with its anchor while preparing to unload, bad weather affected deliveries and strong demand for state-subsidised Pertalite put pressure on supplies. These problems were compounded by panic buying. Ultimately, officials described the immediate problem as one of distribution rather than Indonesia having run out of fuel.

During the crisis, many faced long waits at petrol stations and Bali Post reported that some residents in Bangli had been waiting since the previous evening. There were also cases where Pertalite was being resold on Facebook Marketplace for somewhere between IDR 50,000–200,000 per 1.5-litre bottle, and according to detikBali’s report on an October 17th police briefing, action was taken against several of those caught doing so. Those who rely on their vehicles to make a living, such as delivery drivers and commuters, were particularly hard hit. 

Reducing Pressure

To reduce pressure on stations, authorities introduced a temporary system for buying subsidised Pertalite, based on whether the last digit of your vehicle’s registration number was odd or even. Odd-numbered plates could fill up on odd dates, and even-numbered plates on even dates. The arrangement initially covered October the 17th-19th and stated that purchases were also limited to three litres for motorcycles and 20 litres for cars, according to ANTARA. To try and combat the long queues, Pertamina announced round-the-clock operations at 66 stations. Military personnel were brought in to help support the effort and the police escorted delivery trucks to help fuel reach stations. As part of the temporary measures, trucks were also restricted to filling up at night.

Bali introduced temporary odd-even rules for subsidised Pertalite purchases.The measure aimed to reduce pressure on petrol stations. Purchase limits also applied to motorcycles and cars.

Once October the 19th came around, Governor Wayan Koster announced that the arrangement would be extended until the 23rd of October, although the rule could be lifted earlier if conditions returned to normal.

Is Everything Back to Normal?

Things appear to be improving, although the situation has varied between areas. In its October 19th edition, The Jakarta Post reported that queues had shortened in Denpasar and Badung on Sunday, while long lines remained in Buleleng and Jembrana. Pertamina said that shorter queues were also helping traffic move more freely.

An article published on October 19th quoted Koster saying that deliveries had improved and some stations no longer had queues. However, the odd-even arrangement was still being extended, so it’s worth checking locally rather than assuming every station is back to business as usual. If you have an airport transfer or a longer trip planned, make sure that your driver is ready to go beforehand and leave extra time. For business owners, speak with employees and suppliers directly to see if any arrangements need changing.

Need Help?

Whether you’re planning a move to Bali or already running a business here, our team at Bali Solve would be happy to help with your visas, company setup or accounting. We are a visa and business consulting agency based in Pererenan, near Canggu. Simply reach out via WhatsApp or drop by our office to schedule a consultation today. 

Written by Bali Solve Team
22 October 2026