What happened
On Monday 12 October fuel ran out at a number of Bali petrol stations again. In Badung regency, Pertalite (the cheapest mass-market petrol) and Pertamax disappeared from several pumps, and the stations that still had stock were overwhelmed. Lines lasted from morning until late evening. In Jembrana, in the island's west, 14 stations were affected.
The figures come from detikBali. The trouble did not start on Monday. Bali Post reported on 11 October that Pertalite queues in Denpasar had been recurring for several days.
Where the lines formed
The longest line was at the station in Kapal village, Mengwi district, where cars crept along the main Denpasar-Gilimanuk road. Earlier, drivers also lined up at stations in Sangeh, Lukluk, Dalung Permai and Werdi Bhuwana. In south Badung, packed stations in Kuta and South Kuta caused congestion on nearby streets.
A Tabanan resident driving home from Seminyak told the outlet he joined the line at 18:30 and got to a pump at about 19:50. Staff at Kapal expected their stock to last two to three hours. A tanker carrying roughly 8 kl was expected overnight from Manggis, the Karangasem depot,, enough to keep the station going until morning.
In Jembrana, reporters found both Pertalite and Pertamax gone at five stations in Jembrana and Negara by 17:30. Pertalite ran out on Sunday afternoon, Pertamax on Sunday night. Roadside sellers had nothing left either, so some residents pushed their motorbikes or paid well above the usual price.
Pertamina's explanation
Ahad Rahedi, communications manager at Pertamina Patra Niaga for the East Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara region, said the company is tracking stock and demand and speeding up deliveries from terminals to stations once ships dock.
An additional 26,200 kl is on its way, with ships docking at the Sanggaran and Manggis terminals on 12 October, then on the 14th and 16th. The previous shipment, 18,000 kl of Pertalite plus 2,500 kl of Pertamax, landed on Sunday 11 October. Pertamina puts Bali's average Pertalite use at around 2,200 kl a day. Radar Buleleng earlier reported that the company acknowledged a temporary delay in Pertalite deliveries.
Officials and police
Anak Agung Sagung Rosyawati, who heads Badung's trade and small business agency, linked the queues to rising Pertalite demand that empties station tanks quickly. Her office is coordinating with Pertamina.
Badung police chief Joseph Edward Purba blamed a technical problem in supply from the provider. Officers were posted at busy stations to manage traffic, and he asked people not to panic, describing the situation as under control.
Consumer group demands answers
I Putu Armaya, director of the Bali consumer protection foundation YLPK Bali, said the shortage should not be treated as routine because residents, small firms, drivers and tourism all depend on fuel. He asked the authorities to state publicly whether the cause is late deliveries, a quota gap, higher demand or misallocation.
The group wants stock levels, quotas, delivery schedules and sales checked at every station with long lines, supply data published, and hoarding prosecuted. It lists the costs for ordinary people as lost hours, higher running costs and disrupted work.