Bali Faces Fuel Shortages, Disrupting Tourist Travel and Local Life
Kilometre-long queues form at petrol stations as authorities urge calm amid concerns for holidaymakers.
Fuel shortages have led to extensive queues at petrol stations across Bali, impacting daily life and raising concerns for the island's significant Australian tourist population. Motorists have reported waiting for hours to refuel, with some stations running dry and roadside vendors struggling to maintain stock.
Australian expats and tourists have shared their experiences online, with some documenting queues stretching for over a kilometre. Chad and Mia Dickson, who relocated to Bali from Townsville with their four children in 2024, captured footage of lengthy lines of cars and motorbikes. "We've already been waiting for about 40 minutes now and we are pretty empty," Ms. Dickson said.
Another tourist reported that his wife waited two-and-a-half hours to refuel after arriving at a station at 4:30 a.m. Content creator The Travelling Foodie noted that stations in Denpasar, Badung, and other parts of the island have been low on or completely out of fuel for several days, affecting travel routes.
Bali welcomed 1.63 million Australian visitors in 2025, making them the largest international group by a significant margin. The current fuel situation has added an element of uncertainty for many planning holidays.
Official Response and Outlook
Indonesia's state-owned energy company has scheduled fuel tanker arrivals every other day this week to replenish supplies. Bali Governor Wayan Koster has called for calm, assuring the public that sufficient supplies are available and attributing the current disruption to traffic congestion delaying deliveries and a simultaneous surge in demand.
"For Bali, I can assure you this will not continue. Things should be back to normal within one or two days," Governor Koster told Indonesian news agency ANTARA. The island experienced similar fuel supply issues in late August.
While fuel in Bali costs approximately 90 Australian cents per litre, significantly less than the Australian average, the availability has become a pressing issue. Authorities are working to normalize the situation, urging residents and visitors to monitor their fuel levels and avoid panic buying.