Denpasar. Two fuel tankers carrying a combined 21.7 million liters of gasoline have arrived in Bali as state energy company Pertamina moves to resolve a supply shortage that has caused long queues at gas stations across the popular tourist island in recent days.

The arrival of the shipments was confirmed Tuesday following a meeting between Pertamina President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri and Bali Governor I Wayan Koster in Denpasar to discuss emergency measures to restore normal fuel distribution.

Koster said the additional supplies had reached Pertamina's fuel terminals in Manggis, Karangasem, and Pesanggaran, providing much-needed relief after motorists faced lengthy waits at gas stations since the weekend.

The shipments comprise 19.2 million liters of Pertalite gasoline and 2.5 million liters of Pertamax, a higher-octane gasoline product.

"The tankers have arrived at the fuel terminals in Manggis, Karangasem, and Pesanggaran, carrying 19.2 million liters of Pertalite, which should be sufficient to meet demand for the next week," Koster said.

He urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that the provincial government and Pertamina were working together to accelerate deliveries to retail fuel stations.

92 Gas Stations to Operate Around the Clock
To reduce congestion and clear the backlog of motorists waiting to refuel, the authorities have instructed 92 gas stations in Denpasar and Badung to operate 24 hours a day starting Tuesday evening.

Pertamina has also increased the number of fuel delivery trucks from 90 to 105 to speed up distribution from storage terminals to gas stations.

Koster said Bali Police would escort fuel tankers during deliveries to help prevent delays and ensure that supplies reached stations as quickly as possible.

The measures are intended to ease pressure on gas stations in the island's busiest urban and tourism areas, where queues have disrupted motorists' daily activities.

Pertamina is also prioritizing improvements in fuel distribution in neighboring Tabanan and Gianyar regencies.

Tanker Anchor Problem Delayed Fuel Deliveries
Simon said the shortage had been aggravated by a technical problem involving the anchor of one of the tankers, delaying the unloading of fuel for several hours.

He said Pertamina would increase deliveries from available fuel shipments and accelerate services at gas stations until supply conditions stabilized.

The company expects the emergency measures to produce noticeable improvements as early as Wednesday, with normal operations potentially resuming within two to three days.

"We hope to see significant improvements tomorrow, with shorter queues and better service. If conditions return to normal within two or three days, we will resume our regular operations," Simon said.

According to Pertamina, the tanker MT Prima had been docked since Sunday, carrying 18 million liters of Pertalite and 2.5 million liters of Pertamax.

A second tanker, MT Klasogun, arrived Tuesday with an additional 1.2 million liters of Pertalite.

Together, the two vessels delivered 21.7 million liters of gasoline, which Pertamina expects will help replenish stocks and restore normal distribution across Bali.

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