Fuel shortages in Bali have triggered kilometre-long lines outside petrol stations, disrupting everyday business and raising concerns for thousands of Australian travellers holidaying on the Indonesian island.
Drivers say they have been forced to spend hours waiting for fuel, while some service stations report dwindling supplies. Roadside sellers, who commonly supply petrol in bottles, are also struggling to restock.
Bali petrol remains relatively cheap, costing about 90 Australian cents a litre compared with Australia’s average of $2.46. However, limited availability has placed increasing pressure on motorists across the island.
Australian expats Chad and Mia Dickson, who relocated from Townsville to Bali with their four children in 2024, are among those affected by the disruption.
The couple posted footage online showing a seemingly endless line of cars and motorbikes waiting to reach a petrol pump.
“We’ve already been waiting for about 40 minutes now and we are pretty empty,” Ms Dickson said.
One visitor told Seven News that his wife had joined the queue before dawn and waited several hours before she could fill the vehicle.
“This morning, my wife lined up at 4.30am and waited for two-and-a-half hours before finally being able to refuel. It’s crazy,” he said.
Australian expats Chad and Mia Dickson have shared footage showing the lengthy petrol queues forming across Bali
The shortage has begun to interfere with normal life in several parts of Bali, according to Sydney-based travel and food creator The Travelling Foodie.
“Over the last few days, stations across Denpasar, Badung and other parts of the island have been running low or completely dry, with some queues stretching for ages,” he said.
He said he travelled from Seminyak to Berawa and Canggu without finding a single roadside fuel vendor with petrol available.
While hoping new deliveries would arrive soon, Mr Cua advised tourists and residents to plan ahead and monitor their fuel levels.
“But right now it’s definitely affecting daily life here. If you’re in Bali at the moment, keep an eye on your tank and don’t leave it until empty,” he said.
The Bali Info community page has also cautioned followers about the worsening petrol supply problems.
“Fuel shortages have reportedly hit parts of Bali over the past two days, with long lines of motorbikes seen at petrol stations in Abiansemal, Badung,” the page reported.
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A number of Australian tourists have since used social media to document the queues and describe the impact on their Bali trips.
The Australian expats have shown how petrol shortages are affecting tourists and residents throughout Bali
Sydney-based travel and food creator The Travelling Foodie said the fuel crisis had disrupted daily life in several areas of the island
The Bali Info community page was among those posting images of lengthy queues and warning about the growing disruption
‘Literally leaving Bali right now, in the airport, the lines go for over a kilometre. At all servos,’ one tourist said.
Another added: ‘Just left this morning, this is real, lines of bikes and cars stretching 500m.’
Bali welcomed 1.63million Australian visitors in 2025, accounting for almost one in four international arrivals to the island.
Indonesia’s state-owned energy company has scheduled fuel tankers to arrive in Bali every other day this week to replenish petrol and diesel supplies.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster urged everyone not to panic-buy fuel, insisting supplies are sufficient despite the lengthy queues.
He blamed the disruption on traffic congestion delaying deliveries and a surge in motorists attempting to fill up at the same time.
Fuel deliveries are expected to arrive in Bali every other day this week in a bid to ease the shortages
Fuel shortages in Bali have sparked kilometre-long queues at petrol stations
‘For Bali, I can assure you this will not continue. Things should be back to normal within one or two days,’ he told Indonesian news agency ANTARA.
Bali experienced similar fuel supply problems in late August, when motorists were also left waiting in lengthy queues at petrol stations across the island.