Over the past few days, gas stations in Bali have become hubs crowded with hundreds, if not thousands, of people daily. This isn't because Pertamina is running a promotion or hosting a special event; rather, it is because fuel has become scarce in Bali—some have even described the situation as a fuel crisis. It is no wonder, then, that gas stations are packed, which even led to severe traffic congestion on the roads a few days ago.
Today, the roads appear somewhat quieter, yet long lines of motorcycles and cars still snake away from gas stations—in some cases, the queues stretch for as long as a kilometer.
Fortunately, my family and I are not part of these long lines. A few days ago, before the fuel crisis reached its peak, we managed to fill the tanks of all the motorcycles at home.
It feels as though a little angel was looking out for us, nudging us to fill up our tanks just in time. As a result, we have been spared the ordeal of waiting in line for hours to get fuel.
For about two weeks now, long queues have been a common sight at gas stations, often spilling out onto the streets. The situation has been at its worst over the last three days, with some people waiting for more than three hours just to secure a few liters of fuel for their motorcycles—regardless of whether it is morning, afternoon, night, or the early hours of the dawn.
Based on information I have come across, the "fuel crisis" in Bali appears to stem from technical issues within the supply chain—specifically, delays in the docking of fuel tankers at the Sanggaran Fuel Terminal and the Manggis Integrated Terminal. Consequently, fuel supplies in Bali have dwindled as no new shipments have arrived.
Another contributing factor is the exceptionally high fuel consumption, driven by the sheer number of motorcycles and cars circulating throughout Bali. For daily transportation, most people rely on private vehicles. Public transport is not a popular choice—partly because it is scarce, and partly because the available routes often do not align with people's intended destinations.
The fuel shortage has triggered widespread panic. Daily activities are being disrupted—either by traffic congestion caused by long queues at gas stations or by people simply being unable to travel because their vehicles have run out of fuel.
In fact, as of yesterday (Wednesday, October 14), some offices have begun implementing work-from-home (WFH) policies, and today, schools have shifted to online learning.
Right now, a liter of gasoline feels far more valuable than a trendy cup of coffee.
I may not be part of the long queues at the gas station at this very moment, but that’s only temporary; my motorcycle’s fuel tank is running low. It will likely last until Sunday, at which point I’ll need to refuel. Hopefully, by then, the fuel supply chain will have returned to normal, and the long queues at gas stations will be a thing of the past.
Are you team "always fill up early" or team "wait until the refuel indicator blinks"?