Bali fuel queues persist despite emergency supply measures and 24-hour stations

Motorists continued to face long queues at petrol stations across Indonesia’s Bali island on Wednesday morning, following several days of disrupted fuel supplies that prompted emergency distribution measures and round-the-clock operations at selected stations.

The queues have affected several areas, including Badung, Denpasar, Gianyar and Kuta Selatan, with some motorists reporting waits of more than an hour to refuel.

Reports said queues had formed at petrol stations in Kapal, Werdi Bhuwana, Sangeh and Lukluk, as well as the densely populated Dalung Permai residential area. Long lines were also reported across southern Badung, including Kuta and South Kuta, where congestion affected surrounding roads.

At petrol station 54.083.08 in Kapal, Mengwi district, many motorists were seeking Pertalite, a subsidised petrol product, resulting in a longer queue for that fuel than for other products.

Gede Ari, a resident of Tabanan returning from work in Seminyak, told local media that he had been waiting since 6.30pm local time and only reached the fuel dispensers at about 7.50pm.

Badung police chief Joseph Edward Purba confirmed that congestion at several petrol stations in the regency had been caused by technical problems with fuel supplies. Police personnel were deployed to affected stations to manage traffic and prevent queues from causing further disruption.

“We at Badung Police and the district police stations are ensuring that the queues move smoothly, especially where they may affect traffic. We are assuring the public that there is no need to panic,” he said.

Pertamina apologises and explains supply disruption

PT Pertamina (Persero), Indonesia’s state-owned energy company, has apologised to Bali residents after fuel supply disruptions caused long queues at petrol stations across the island. Its subsidiary, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, handles fuel distribution and marketing, including deliveries to petrol stations.

Pertamina president director Simon Aloysius Mantiri apologised on Tuesday after meeting Bali Governor Wayan Koster in Denpasar.

“First of all, on behalf of PT Pertamina Persero, as president director, I offer my sincerest apologies, especially to the people of Bali, for the queues we have experienced together over the past few days, particularly at petrol stations across Bali,” Simon said.

He attributed one of the distribution problems to a technical issue involving the anchor of a fuel tanker during the unloading process. The problem delayed the vessel’s planned berthing and unloading, which had been scheduled for 6.30am on Monday, 12 October, until about 10pm that day.

Simon also acknowledged that increased public consumption of subsidised fuel had contributed to pressure on supplies at the distribution level. The price difference between subsidised and non-subsidised products was among the factors affecting demand.

Pertamina said the technical disruption and increased consumption did not justify the shortages experienced by residents. The company and its distribution subsidiary, Pertamina Patra Niaga, have been working with the Bali provincial government on measures to restore supplies.

Tankers arrive as additional deliveries are scheduled

Pertamina Patra Niaga, the fuel distribution and trading subsidiary of Indonesia’s state-owned energy company Pertamina, said it was stepping up supplies to petrol stations across Bali. The tanker MT Klasogun, carrying Pertalite and biodiesel, had berthed at Benoa Port in Denpasar on Tuesday morning. The fuel was to be distributed to petrol stations through the Sanggaran fuel terminal.

Ahad Rahedi, area manager for communications, relations and corporate social responsibility at Pertamina Patra Niaga’s East Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara regional operation, said the company had opened its supply operations around the clock to accelerate the recovery of fuel services.

Pertamina Patra Niaga said tankers were scheduled to deliver fuel to Bali in stages on 12, 14 and 16 October, supplying the Sanggaran terminal in Denpasar and the Manggis terminal in Karangasem regency. The planned deliveries totalled 26,200 kilolitres, with the additional fuel targeted for distribution from Wednesday afternoon.

The company said previous delays in Pertalite supplies had contributed to queues. Ahad said supplies had arrived on 7 October and that the company had continued adjusting distribution to maintain availability across Bali. Further supplies were delivered on 11 October.

Pertamina has also accelerated the movement of fuel from depots to petrol stations and reviewed tanker berthing operations as part of its response. The company said it was coordinating with the provincial government on updated information and measures at affected locations.

Ninety-two stations to operate around the clock

Following Tuesday’s meeting with Pertamina, Koster said 92 petrol stations in Denpasar and Badung would operate 24 hours a day, starting that night. The total comprised 54 stations in Denpasar and 38 in Badung, the two areas prioritised because of their higher fuel demand.

The same arrangement was expected to be extended to Gianyar and Tabanan the following day.

Koster said the province had initially considered introducing work-from-home arrangements and online schooling if a workable emergency response could not be prepared. He subsequently ruled out the measures after officials and Pertamina agreed on an operational plan covering the supply chain from depots to petrol stations.

“If the scheme decided at this meeting is implemented from tonight until tomorrow, then work from home will not be necessary,” he said after the meeting in Denpasar on Tuesday, 13 October.

He said the plan had been developed with Simon after officials reviewed the queues at petrol stations and the fuel deliveries already under way.

Koster said tanker deliveries had reached the Manggis and Sanggaran depots on 13 October, including 19.2 million litres of Pertalite. A further three million litres of Pertamax had also arrived, which he said would meet demand for the following three days.

Additional Pertalite deliveries totalling 25 million litres were scheduled for 15, 16 and 17 October, which the provincial government said would be sufficient for up to 10 days of demand. Further Pertamax deliveries totalling 13 million litres were scheduled for 13 and 17 October, intended to cover demand for 10 to 11 days.

The provincial government said the staggered arrivals indicated that Pertalite and Pertamax stocks in Bali were secure and above normal requirements.

“Because Bali is Indonesia’s showcase before the world, everything here must be managed with a high degree of accuracy and orderly management,” Koster said.

More 24-hour stations as queues persist

By Wednesday, Pertamina Patra Niaga had prepared 52 petrol stations to operate 24 hours a day across six areas in Bali, according to Bali Post. The company said it would expand the service as needed and regularly update the list of participating stations.

The figure was lower than the 92 stations announced by Bali Governor Wayan Koster for Denpasar and Badung alone on Tuesday. The reports did not explain the discrepancy.

Queues remained on Wednesday morning despite emergency measures. Pertamina instructed stations to display information on fuel availability and operating hours, while president director Simon Aloysius Mantiri said the company would continue improving services as further supplies arrived.