On Monday evening (12/10/2026), an unusual sight appeared along several roads in Bali. Cars and motorbikes crawled in slow lines toward gas stations, a clear sign of the fuel shortage in Bali that left many drivers waiting well over an hour for their turn.
According to detikBali, one of the longest queues formed at the gas station in Kapal Village, Mengwi District. Rows of vehicles stretched along the main Denpasar-Gilimanuk road, slowing traffic to a crawl.
Queues Spread Across Many Points in Badung
The situation was not limited to Kapal. Gas station queues in Badung were also seen at the Werdi Bhuwana, Sangeh, and Lukluk stations, as well as at a station in the densely populated Dalung Permai area.
In southern Badung, the congestion reportedly spread further. Based on information gathered, most gas stations in Kuta and South Kuta districts were also swamped by drivers, and the long lines affected traffic flow in the surrounding areas.
Pertalite Is the Most Sought-After Fuel
At gas station 54.083.08 in Kapal, most drivers chose to fill up with Pertalite. Unsurprisingly, the Pertalite lane was by far the longest compared to other fuel types.
For many, the wait was exhausting. One driver joined the back of the line at 6:30 PM local time (Wita) and only reached the fuel dispenser at around 7:50 PM, a wait of roughly one hour and 20 minutes just to fill the tank.
Gede Ari, a Tabanan resident heading home from work in Seminyak, said he had already tried other stations before arriving at Kapal.
“The wait was long because when I first got to the station, I was told to back out. It turned out there was a queue. I had driven around Dalung and it was still crowded, so I came here,” he told detikBali.
Police Step In, Residents Asked Not to Panic
Badung Police Chief AKBP Joseph Edward Purba said the crowding at several stations was caused by technical problems in the fuel supply process from the provider. To prevent traffic jams, officers have been deployed to every affected gas station.
“Badung Police and our local sub-district units are making sure the queues keep moving, especially where they might affect traffic flow. We assure the public there is no need to panic,” he said.
Residents are advised to stay calm and avoid panic buying so fuel distribution can return to normal as soon as possible.
