Fuel shortages in Bali have reportedly led people to spend the night in gas station lines, while some motorbike riders are pushing their vehicles forward with the engines off as closures leave fewer places to fill up.
A video shared in a Reddit thread shows a long line of vehicles at one of the stations that was still operating.
(Click here to watch the embedded video if it does not appear.)
Here's what to know
In the post, the original poster described most Bali gas stations as closed, with only a limited number still serving customers.
According to the Associated Press (via ABC News), officials said "a combination of technical problems, bad weather, and surging demand" was responsible for the issue.
One commenter who lives in Bali described the scene: "People are turning off their engines while on line and pushing their bikes." The same person said some people were getting in line after midnight and staying overnight so they could keep a spot before the station opened at 6 a.m.
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More background
The situation is especially tough where motorcycles are widely used and cheaper fuel matters to household budgets. A commenter wrote, "Two days ago the subsidized fuel for around 50c was mostly out. The regular 75c fuel was still available. With an income of 200-300€ [about $223 to $335 at current exchange rates] it's obvious that the normal people tried to avoid the expensive stuff."
Using informal price and pay estimates, another commenter said a median monthly salary of €164 ($184) would buy only 205 liters (about 54 gallons). Even as rough figures, they pointed to how fast a distribution problem could squeeze working households.
What can be done?
Long motorcycle lines are already common at many stations, especially for the cheaper fuel option, though one commenter said it is unusual for them to stretch out into the road. A separate commenter said it is normal in Indonesia for motorcycles and cars to use different pumps, and that bike queues usually move faster because riders "only put in max five liters at a time."
Several commenters treated the shortage as a reminder of the risks of relying on fuel supplies that shipping delays and port problems can disrupt. One highly upvoted reply said, "Solar and EV change can't happen fast enough."
Another person added, "You need to wait hours in line to get enough gas to get out of the line."
Where can I learn more?
For more context on why fuel disruptions hit so hard, these stories dig into energy costs, pollution, and reliance on gas-powered transport.
• Across many countries, soaring fuel prices spark pump anxiety as drivers rethink gas cars.
• After China's waste ban, trash rerouted to Indonesia left the country's air deadlier.
• Norway is essentially phasing out gas-powered vehicles as electric car registrations dominate.
• Across mining regions, the energy industry brings brutal repression as demand for transition minerals rises.
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