Bali faces widespread fuel shortages as long queues form at service stations across Denpasar and Badung, driving desperate motorists and foreign tourists to buy overpriced petrol online.
Police Crack Down on Online Resellers and Modifed Fuel Tanks in Badung
An online vendor dressed in motorcycle delivery gear was documented selling small bottles of fuel to foreign nationals in Bali for up to 200 ribu rupiah for 1.5 liters. The viral footage emerged as regular motorists waited hours at petrol stations amid severe shortages across the island. Badung Police Chief AKBP Joseph Edward Purba warned the public against exploiting the fuel crunch for personal profit. Police have deployed extra personnel to guard petrol stations and enforce strict rules against using modified vehicle tanks or jerry cans to hoard subsidized fuel. Authorities noted that violators face up to six years in prison and a 60 miliar rupiah fine under Indonesia’s Oil and Gas Law.
Medical Emergencies and Traffic Gridlock Plague Jembrana Fuel Queues
Police in Jembrana evacuated a 20-year-old woman suffering a seizure while waiting in a long petrol station queue. Medical personnel from the Jembrana Police treated the woman on-site before transferring her to Balimed Hospital for intensive care. Local police reported that the patient has a history of epilepsy and requires regular medication. To mitigate safety risks, traffic officers distributed bottled water to stranded drivers along the Denpasar-Gilimanuk highway while regulating traffic around congested service stations.
Energy Analysts Question National Reserve Transparency Amid Repeated Crises
The fuel shortages in Bali mark the latest regional disruption following similar distribution crises in Sumatra, Makassar, and Sulawesi earlier this year. Energy analyst Fabby Tumiwa from the Institute for Essential Services Reform argued that official government statements citing 18 to 21 days of national reserves fail to reflect actual regional supply realities. Tumiwa called for greater transparency regarding specific fuel types, including diesel and gasoline reserves. Meanwhile, Wayan Koster dismissed speculation that the shortages stemmed from diverted supplies for the Mandalika MotoGP event in West Nusa Tenggara, attributing the crisis instead to a combination of panic buying, a surge in consumption, and motorists switching from non-subsidized fuel to subsidized alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bali’s Fuel Crisis
Why are petrol prices so high on social media platforms in Bali?
Online sellers on TikTok, Facebook, and Threads are capitalizing on severe supply shortages by reselling Pertalite and Pertamax in water bottles for prices ranging from 50 ribu to 100 ribu rupiah per bottle, far exceeding official retail rates.
Are the fuel shortages in Bali caused by a lack of national supply?
Government officials and Pertamina representatives maintain that national stock levels remain secure, blaming the localized queues on distribution bottlenecks, panic buying, and sudden shifts toward subsidized fuel consumption.
What legal penalties do illegal fuel resellers face in Badung?
Badung Police Chief AKBP Joseph Edward Purba stated that individuals caught hoarding or reselling subsidized fuel face up to six years in prison and fines reaching 60 miliar rupiah under Article 55 juncto Article 53 of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas.