Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara.  A prolonged fuel shortage has hit Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo National Park, forcing tour operators to cancel boat trips and leaving tourists stranded in one of Indonesia’s flagship destinations.

The scarcity of fuel has persisted for 10 days, according to the Labuan Bajo Boat Operators Association (Askawi). Many vessels have been unable to sail to Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where visitors typically embark on diving, snorkeling, and island-hopping excursions.

“Many tourists had booked their trips months in advance, only to arrive in Labuan Bajo and face cancellations because of fuel shortages,” Askawi chairman Ahyar Abadi said on Monday. “This is very regrettable, especially since Labuan Bajo is promoted as a super-priority tourism destination.”

Tour operators have reported a surge in complaints from disappointed guests, while local businesses depending on tourism worry about mounting losses. Ahyar urged the West Manggarai district government to coordinate with nearby regions to secure emergency supplies from Maumere, Manggarai, or even neighboring Bima in West Nusa Tenggara.

State energy company Pertamina confirmed that distribution to Labuan Bajo has been disrupted by extreme weather, which hampered fuel shipments to the Reo Fuel Terminal, the main hub supplying the area.

“We are committed to maintaining 24-hour operations at our terminals to ensure fuel availability in Labuan Bajo,” said Ahad Rahedi, spokesperson for Pertamina Patra Niaga Jatimbalinus, in a written statement on Tuesday.

To stabilize supplies, Pertamina has rerouted shipments from terminals in Maumere and Ende. Three fuel trucks from Maumere delivered a total of 48,000 liters of Pertamina Dex, while six trucks from Ende carried 96,000 liters of Biosolar.

In addition, a tanker was scheduled to unload 250,000 liters of Pertamina Dex and 800,000 liters of Biosolar at the Reo terminal on Tuesday, significantly boosting local reserves. Daily fuel consumption in Labuan Bajo averages 6,090 liters of Pertalite, 7,020 liters of Pertamax, 2,220 liters of Biosolar, and 5,940 liters of Pertamina Dex, according to Pertamina data. Pertamina has also tightened regulations on non-vehicle fuel purchases to curb speculative buying and stockpiling.

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