Bali’s fuel shortage in October 2026 was a delivery failure, not a lack of fuel. But for hotels away from the airport it worked like a shortage. Guests worried about getting back to Ngurah Rai checked out early, and some events were cancelled. For owners and operators, the lesson from the Bali fuel shortage is that road transport is a weak point. The hotels most exposed are those a long drive from the airport, in the east, north and west, and in inland resort areas such as Ubud.
Key facts
- What: long queues at fuel stations across Bali from about 13–14 October 2026
- Cause: delivery disruption from technical problems, bad weather and higher demand, according to officials
- Stock: Pertamina says supply was sufficient; 48 million litres of Pertalite scheduled for 7–17 October
- Rationing: motorcycle top-ups capped at three litres per purchase through a mobile service from 15 October; odd-even refuelling by plate from 17 to 19 October
- Status on 19 October: queues easing in Denpasar and Badung; still long in Buleleng and Jembrana
- Hotel impact: early check-outs and cancellations reported in Karangasem; some events cancelled island-wide
What happened
Queues built up across the island in the week of 12 October. Officials blamed technical problems, bad weather that disrupted deliveries, and a jump in demand as drivers rushed to fill up.
The distributor, Pertamina Patra Niaga, said Bali had sufficient fuel stocks and that an extra 48 million litres of Pertalite were being delivered in phases, roughly two weeks of normal supply. Military and police units escorted delivery trucks. The governor, I Wayan Koster, ordered odd-even refuelling by number plate for 17 to 19 October.
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 7–17 October | 48 million litres of Pertalite scheduled for phased delivery |
| About 13–14 October | Queues spread across the island |
| 15 October | Mobile service for motorcycles, up to three litres per purchase |
| 17–19 October | Island-wide odd-even refuelling by number plate |
| 19 October | Queues ease in Denpasar and Badung; still long in Buleleng and Jembrana |
Why it matters: the hotels far from the airport took the hit
Hotels in the south, near the airport, saw delays to transfers and tours. Hotels further out saw lost revenue.
In Karangasem, in east Bali, the local chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) said some guests checked out as much as three days early and moved closer to the airport, worried they would not find fuel for the drive. Its chairman, I Wayan Kariasa, said his own property in Candidasa lost at least two room bookings. Local press reported two to three hours of traffic near the fuel stations there.
At island level, PHRI Bali’s chairman, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, said some events were cancelled. He has not calculated the loss and suggested it may be small, because many visitors moved within Bali rather than leaving. His bigger concern is that competing destinations will use the episode to pitch travellers who had planned to come to Bali.
| Area | Reported effect |
|---|---|
| Denpasar and Badung (south) | Long queues, transfer and tour delays; eased by 19 October |
| Karangasem (east) | Early check-outs, cancellations, long traffic near Candidasa stations |
| Buleleng and Jembrana (north and west) | Queues still long on 19 October |
| Island-wide | Some events cancelled; loss not yet quantified by PHRI |
Our view: the revenue loss is probably small. The pattern is the warning. Much of Bali’s new five-star supply is heading inland to Ubud and to Nusa Penida, not just the southern beaches, as our Bali pipeline analysis shows. Hotels like these depend on long road or boat transfers. When roads or fuel fail, guests move back to the south, and the distant hotels lose the nights.
What it means for you
1. Hotels outside the south: own your transfer plan
If your guests depend on a two-hour drive to the airport, keep a fuel reserve for your own vehicles and a written plan for transfers during a disruption. Tell guests early that you have it covered.
2. Operators: talk to guests before they decide to leave
The Karangasem early check-outs were driven by worry, not by actual fuel shortages at the hotel. Clear updates on transfers and fuel can keep guests in place.
3. Sales teams: expect questions from event planners
PHRI’s concern is competitor destinations. Prepare a short note for agents and event clients on what happened, what was done and how your hotel handled transport.
4. Owners and developers: price access risk into remote sites
Remote resorts sell privacy, but they rely on roads and fuel deliveries. Include transfer and fuel resilience in the operating budget, and in the case for the site.
FAQ
Was there a fuel shortage in Bali in October 2026?
There were long fuel queues across Bali from mid-October 2026. Pertamina said stocks were sufficient and the problem was delivery, caused by technical issues, bad weather and a jump in demand.
Did the Bali fuel shortage affect hotels?
Yes, mostly outside the south. In Karangasem some guests checked out up to three days early and bookings were cancelled. PHRI Bali said some events were cancelled.
Is the Bali fuel situation back to normal?
On 19 October queues had eased in Denpasar and Badung but were still long in Buleleng and Jembrana.
What is the odd-even fuel rule in Bali?
From 17 to 19 October, vehicles could refuel only on days matching the last digit of their number plate, odd or even, under a circular from the governor.
How much did the fuel crisis cost Bali tourism?
PHRI Bali has not calculated it. Its chairman said the loss may be small because many visitors moved within Bali rather than leaving.
