DENPASAR, Bali — Long queues have formed at fuel stations across Denpasar and southern Badung, including the Kuta area, as motorists struggle to find Pertalite and, at some locations, Pertamax.
Queues were reported at several stations on Wednesday, October 7, with some lines stretching beyond station entrances and onto surrounding roads.
At a fuel station on Jalan Raya Sesetan in Denpasar, motorists who had already spent time waiting were told that Pertalite stocks had run out.
One motorcyclist said she had already passed several crowded fuel stations before choosing the Sesetan station because the queue appeared shorter, only to discover that Pertalite was unavailable after she had already joined the line.
She eventually switched to Pertamax.
A similar situation was reported in the Kuta area, where motorists faced long queues and uneven fuel availability.
At one station along the Ngurah Rai Bypass, a motorcyclist looking for Pertamax said the fuel was unavailable and he instead bought Pertalite.
He said he had already avoided buying fuel the previous day because of the queues but returned after his motorcycle began running low.
Some motorists reported waiting for more than 30 minutes.
In Denpasar, particularly long queues were also seen at stations on Jalan Gatot Subroto Barat and Jalan Ahmad Yani Utara.
At the Ahmad Yani station, vehicles reportedly lined up onto part of the roadway, forcing motorists waiting for fuel to share space with passing traffic.
The Bali Provincial Government said the disruption was linked to an adjustment involving fuel distribution from the Pesanggaran depot in Denpasar and the Manggis Transit Terminal in Karangasem.
Ida Bagus Setiawan, head of Bali’s Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources Agency, said the provincial government was coordinating with Pertamina and the Bali branch of fuel distributors’ association Hiswana Migas.
“Technically, we have been informed that there has been a diversion involving the Pesanggaran depot and Manggis Transit Terminal. It is currently being restored gradually,” Setiawan said.
He said authorities were still waiting for more detailed information from Pertamina and Hiswana Migas regarding the cause of the distribution adjustment and its wider impact on fuel supplies.
The disruption follows a similar episode in late August, when fuel shortages also caused long queues at stations in Bali.
At that time, Pertamina Patra Niaga increased Pertalite distribution by 700 kilolitres and said temporary stock adjustments at supply points including Manggis and the Sanggaran Fuel Terminal had contributed to the situation.
For motorists in Denpasar, Kuta and surrounding areas, fuel availability may continue to vary between stations while distribution returns to normal.
Drivers who are running low on fuel may want to allow additional time and avoid waiting until their tanks are nearly empty before refuelling.
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