DENPASAR, Bali — Bali’s fuel shortage is beginning to affect tourism transport, with jeep drivers in Kintamani queueing for petrol to keep vehicles operating for visitors heading to Mount Batur.

Drivers serving sunrise and black lava tours said reliable fuel supplies had become a growing concern as queues continued at filling stations. At one station on Jalan Raya Penelokan, vehicles reportedly lined up for around 200 metres as operators searched for Pertalite.

Some jeep drivers make several trips a day carrying tourists through the Mount Batur area, making access to fuel essential to their work. Drivers said they were trying to secure enough petrol to avoid the risk of vehicles running out while transporting visitors.

The tourism impact comes as Pertamina works to restore fuel distribution across Bali after several days of shortages and long queues.

Pertamina President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri apologised to the public and said one of the disruptions was caused by a technical problem involving the anchor of a fuel tanker. The issue delayed the vessel’s berthing and unloading process on October 12 until around 10 p.m.

Pertamina has since accelerated deliveries and extended operating hours at selected filling stations. Stations in Denpasar and Badung have been instructed to operate 24 hours, with similar arrangements also planned in Tabanan and Gianyar to help ease queues.

The company has also asked station operators to provide clearer information on fuel availability and operating hours while distribution continues to recover.

In Kintamani, however, drivers are already feeling the effects. Pertalite reportedly ran out at the Penelokan station during the disruption, although Pertamax remained available.

Bali Police have deployed officers to filling stations where queues risk disrupting traffic and have urged motorists to avoid panic buying or stockpiling fuel. Authorities said they would also monitor any suspected hoarding or misuse of subsidised fuel.

Pertamina and the Bali provincial government have said additional supplies are being distributed across the island, but availability may continue to vary between individual filling stations while the system returns to normal.

The company has not declared the disruption fully resolved.