Bali fuel queues ease after odd-even rule for subsidised petrol

Fuel queues at petrol stations across Indonesia’s Bali island have fallen significantly following the introduction of an odd-even vehicle registration rule for subsidised Pertalite petrol purchases, state energy company Pertamina said on Sunday, after days of supply disruption and long lines.

Ahad Rahedi, area manager for communications, relations and corporate social responsibility at Pertamina Patra Niaga’s East Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara regional office, said queues had decreased at almost all petrol stations on the second day of the policy.

“The reduction in queues has been quite significant, with queues decreasing at almost all petrol stations in Bali,” he said, according to Indonesia’s ANTARA news agency.

The rule, which applies to motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles purchasing subsidised Pertalite, took effect on Saturday, 17 October. A letter issued by the Bali governor set the policy to run from 17 October to 19 October 2026, across petrol stations on the island.

Pertamina said it had increased Pertalite stocks to a total of 48 million litres through deliveries made between 7 October and 17 October. It also said fuel stocks, particularly Pertalite and biosolar diesel, remained available to meet public demand, with supplies monitored digitally around the clock.

Viral footage highlights pressure on petrol station workers

The fuel disruption had also drawn attention to the working conditions of petrol station staff after a female operator broke down in tears during a visit by Bali Governor Wayan Koster to a petrol station on Jalan Diponegoro in Denpasar on Wednesday night, 14 October.

The worker was upset after staff were asked to extend operations to 24 hours to help manage long queues. Footage of the incident circulated widely on social media.

“I’m not a robot. I’m tired too, sir! Yes, I’m an employee, but I have rights too,” she said, as colleagues and others at the site tried to comfort her.

The incident occurred as petrol stations faced pressure to remain open around the clock amid long queues for Pertalite. The disruption had been reported since early in the week, with delays in fuel deliveries linked to weather conditions and ships carrying supplies being unable to dock on schedule at fuel depots. The delays contributed to panic buying and queues stretching for more than 1 kilometre in Denpasar, Badung and other areas.

Station faces staffing shortages as operating hours expand

Tria, the administrator of petrol station 54.801.48 on Jalan Diponegoro, said workers had been caught off guard by the sudden request to operate for 24 hours.

“They were surprised to be asked to open 24 hours, especially since one of my operators is still breastfeeding,” she said on Thursday, 15 October.

The station normally operated from 6am to 11pm local time, with 12 workers assigned across two shifts. The sudden extension forced staff to work beyond their normal hours, while the station struggled to find replacement workers.

“They’re tired and want to be replaced, but it’s not possible to find someone who can take over that quickly,” Tria said, adding that management was discussing possible solutions, including increasing staffing levels.

The station’s operators were all women, and one was still breastfeeding, the reports said.

Governor says worker was exhausted, not involved in a misunderstanding

Koster denied that there had been a miscommunication between him and the petrol station worker during his visit.

He attributed her emotional reaction to physical exhaustion caused by the influx of motorists queuing for fuel, and said staff were still expected to serve customers despite being tired.

“No, there was no miscommunication. I told them not to complain and to serve consumers. Even if they are tired, they must serve them and must not feel tired,” Koster said in Denpasar on Thursday.

He later said he understood that the worker might have been expressing her exhaustion and that there had been no significant problem following the visit.

To help maintain security and support overnight operations, the Bali provincial government coordinated the deployment of Indonesian military personnel to petrol stations in Denpasar and Badung.

Koster said the initial plan covered 66 petrol stations, but personnel had so far been deployed to 50. Two military personnel were assigned to each participating station, he said.

Pertamina increases supplies and monitors distribution

Pertamina said it had arranged 24-hour operations at petrol stations in Jembrana, Tabanan, Karangasem, Buleleng, Badung and Denpasar until queues returned to normal.

The company was also coordinating with the Manggis fuel terminal in Karangasem and the Sanggaran fuel terminal in Denpasar to prioritise supplies to petrol stations with high consumption, Ahad said.

Pertamina added that it would continue evaluating queue conditions with local authorities and other stakeholders, making adjustments according to developments on the ground.

The company urged residents to remain calm and purchase fuel according to their needs.

The easing of queues reported on Sunday followed the introduction of the odd-even rule and increased fuel deliveries, as authorities and petrol station operators continued efforts to stabilise distribution across the island.