JAKARTA – Indonesia’s Ombudsman has called for a comprehensive evaluation of subsidised fuel distribution and oversight, urging the government, state-owned energy company Pertamina, the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas), and other relevant agencies to address prolonged queues and fuel stock shortages across the country, including Bali.
The call follows preliminary findings of long queues at fuel stations in 17 provinces, comprising Bali and 16 other provinces, alongside reported fuel stockouts in six provinces.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Ombudsman summoned the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), PT Pertamina (Persero), PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, and BPH Migas to its office in South Jakarta to seek explanations regarding fuel supply, distribution, and oversight.
Ombudsman member Abdul Ghoffar said the problem should not be assessed solely in terms of fuel availability. Planning, distribution barriers, changing consumer demand, and the effectiveness of subsidised fuel monitoring must also be examined.
Fuel Queues Reported in Bali and 16 Other Provinces
The Ombudsman’s monitoring on October 17–18, 2026, identified long queues at fuel stations across 17 provinces.
The affected provinces are South Kalimantan, Lampung, Riau, Southeast Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, Bali, West Sulawesi, Bengkulu, East Kalimantan, West Sumatra, West Java, Aceh, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Jambi, West Nusa Tenggara, Highland Papua, and South Papua.
The findings indicate that fuel queue problems extend beyond Bali, affecting multiple regions across Indonesia.
Separately, the Ombudsman reported fuel stockouts at several fuel stations in six provinces: Lampung, South Kalimantan, West Sumatra, Aceh, Highland Papua, and East Nusa Tenggara. The largest number of reported cases was found in Lampung and South Kalimantan.
The preliminary findings were compiled from information gathered by the Ombudsman’s 34 regional offices, drawing on input from regional energy agencies, Pertamina Patra Niaga regional offices, fuel station supervisors, members of the public, experts, and other relevant stakeholders.
Nine Factors Contributing to Fuel Queues
The Ombudsman identified several factors contributing to the queues. The most frequently identified was a shift in consumer demand between fuel types due to price differences, followed by distribution disruptions and increased demand.
Other factors included suspected misuse of subsidised fuel, such as stockpiling and illegal fuel resale, quota limitations, panic buying, restrictions on refuelling, service disruptions at fuel stations, and specific time restrictions for fuel purchases.
These findings suggest that fuel queues cannot be addressed through supply measures alone. Authorities also need to examine distribution planning, demand patterns, quota management, and the effectiveness of monitoring mechanisms.
Government, Pertamina and BPH Migas Urged to Review Oversight
The Ombudsman has called on the government, Pertamina, BPH Migas, and other relevant agencies to comprehensively review their respective responsibilities and coordination in fuel supply, distribution, and oversight.
The evaluation should examine whether fuel demand forecasts match actual conditions, whether distribution to fuel stations operates smoothly, and whether monitoring is effective in preventing stockpiling and illegal resale.
Authorities also need to account for changes in consumer demand caused by price differences between fuel types, which may increase pressure on particular fuel categories.
The findings of queues in Bali and 16 other provinces, together with stockouts in six provinces, underscore the need for coordinated action and stronger accountability among the institutions responsible for fuel distribution.
The Ombudsman hopes that comprehensive improvements will help prevent recurring queues and stock shortages, while ensuring more reliable access to subsidised fuel for communities and businesses across affected regions, including Bali, Indonesia’s major tourism destination.
