Bali is facing fuel supply problems in October 2026. Some gas stations have completely run out of petrol, while others are experiencing long queues of motorbikes and cars. The situation is affecting both locals and tourists who rely on scooters or rental cars to get around the island. What’s causing the shortage, and when can drivers expect things to return to normal?
Last updated: October 13, 2026.
What’s happening in Bali?
Fuel shortages became increasingly noticeable during the first week of October. Long queues started forming outside gas stations, and some locations were forced to temporarily stop selling petrol after running out of stock.
Shortages have been reported in Denpasar, Kuta, Jimbaran, and other parts of the island. The main issues involve Pertalite and Pertamax, two commonly used types of petrol in Indonesia.
As of October 13, the situation had not fully improved. Indonesian media reported queues stretching hundreds of metres, with some drivers waiting several hours to refuel.
Why is Bali running out of petrol?
According to Pertamina, Indonesia’s state-owned energy company responsible for fuel distribution, the problems are mainly caused by delayed shipments and disruptions in the distribution network.
Fuel is transported to Bali by ship and delivered to storage terminals before being distributed to individual gas stations by tanker trucks. When scheduled deliveries were delayed, some stations began running out of stock.
The situation was made worse by increased demand. Concerned about further shortages, many drivers rushed to fill their tanks, putting additional pressure on available supplies.
Interestingly, figures released on October 13 indicated that approximately 11.2 million litres of Pertalite were already available at fuel terminals in Bali.
This suggests that the main issue is not simply a lack of fuel on the island, but also how quickly it can be delivered to gas stations.
When will fuel supplies return to normal?
Pertamina has announced emergency measures to increase fuel deliveries.
Additional shipments totalling 26.2 million litres were scheduled for October 12, 14, and 16.
Another tanker carrying fuel also arrived at Benoa Port on October 13. Following its arrival, Pertamina announced plans to operate fuel distribution around the clock to help restore supplies as quickly as possible.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster initially expected the situation to return to normal by October 12, but shortages continued.
In his latest statement on October 13, the governor said he expected conditions to improve within the following one or two days.
However, there is still no confirmed date when fuel will be fully available at every gas station across Bali.
What’s the latest situation in Bali?
As of October 13, 2026, Bali’s fuel shortage has not yet been fully resolved.
Although authorities have confirmed that significant fuel supplies are available at storage terminals and Pertamina is increasing deliveries, some gas stations are still running out of petrol, while others continue to experience long queues.
The positive news is that additional shipments have arrived and distribution efforts are being stepped up. If deliveries proceed as planned, the situation should gradually improve over the coming days.
This article is based on information from Pertamina, local authorities, and Indonesian media verified as of October 13, 2026. Conditions may change quickly.
