Bali field guide
Bali Fuel Shortage Update: Supply Is Back to Normal
Updated 20 October 2026: Bali's fuel distribution and queues have returned to normal. Read the current status and the original timeline of the disruption.
Published 2026-10-15
The useful part, first
Update, 20 October 2026: Bali's fuel distribution and queues are back to normal. The guide below preserves the timeline and explains why individual stations may still differ temporarily.
In this guide
01
UPDATE — 20 October: supply has returned to normal
Bali's provincial government says fuel distribution is back to normal and the long queues have been handled. The island is no longer in the emergency conditions described in the original report below.
Pertamina has been distributing about 3 million litres a day, above normal daily Pertalite demand of roughly 2.2 million litres. The government also ordered Bali's fuel reserve to rise from 11 to 15 days.
A single station can still be temporarily busy or out of one grade, so Traceby Fuel remains useful for checking the latest local report. The sections below are preserved as a timeline of the October disruption.
02
The shortage is at the last mile
Bali has not simply run out of fuel. Officials describe a distribution disruption: a tanker had trouble unloading, rough weather slowed sea deliveries, road congestion delayed trucks, and panic buying emptied individual stations faster than they could be replenished.
That distinction matters. Fuel can be present at Sanggaran or Manggis terminal while the SPBU beside your villa is still empty. A statement about island-wide stock is not a promise about one pump at one hour.
03
What authorities say is arriving
Pertamina reported a tanker arrival carrying 18 million litres of Pertalite and 2.5 million litres of Pertamax. A further 57.9 million litres of petrol was scheduled to reach Bali between 14 and 17 October, while deliveries from terminals continued around the clock.
These are supply-chain numbers, not a countdown for your nearest station. Unloading, terminal allocation, truck loading, traffic and demand all sit between a tanker arrival and fuel reaching a nozzle. Treat any exact island-wide recovery time as an estimate.
04
Why a green station can change quickly
A station report is a snapshot. A queue can consume a delivery, a truck can arrive after a report marked empty, and Pertalite may sell out while Pertamax remains. Always check the report time, fuel grade and queue together.
Open the Traceby Fuel map before leaving, choose the fuel grade, turn on Available, then compare two or three stations along the same route. Do not spend your final range chasing one green marker across the island.
05
Plan around the queue, not through it
Queues have spilled into traffic lanes, so a station can slow your journey even when you do not stop there. Leave extra time, avoid blocking entrances or junctions, and skip a line that would consume more fuel than your remaining range safely allows.
Reports from people on the ground describe conditions changing within the same morning. Use them as a warning signal, not proof. The final check is still the newest map report plus what you can see when approaching the station.
06
What to check before every trip
Check the gauge before starting, keep enough range to reach a second station, and take a screenshot of the two best options in case mobile data drops. If a trip is optional, moving it by a few hours is often better than joining a stationary queue.
For an airport run, medical appointment or fixed booking, remove fuel uncertainty from the critical path. Confirm a private driver's pickup and fuel situation in writing rather than assuming a last-minute taxi or scooter refill will work.
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