Bali Governor Extends Odd-Even Fuel Purchase Scheme Until Friday

Denpasar (ANTARA) – Bali Governor Wayan Koster has decided to extend the policy regulating fuel purchases through an odd-even vehicle-plate system, which had been due to end today.

Speaking in Denpasar on Monday, Koster said the odd-even fuel-purchasing policy would officially be extended from Tuesday, 20 October, until Friday, 23 October.

“We will extend the odd-even system, which was due to end today, from tomorrow until Friday, 23 October,” he said after a coordination meeting with the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina.

The extension follows the effectiveness of the previous policy, which helped ease queues at petrol stations across Bali Province.

Under the rules, people seeking to buy subsidised fuel are served only when the final digit of their vehicle registration plate—odd or even—matches the date of purchase.

The Bali Provincial Government had previously said that restricting vehicle access to fuel purchases, alongside working from home and online learning policies, had helped smooth fuel supplies to petrol stations overall.

“What has proved very effective is that, from Saturday and Sunday through to today, supplies to petrol stations have generally been running smoothly, and there are no longer long queues,” he said.

The odd-even restrictions, supported by improved distribution, have helped conditions return to normal—and even improve on the situation before the fuel shortage. However, Koster said strict monitoring must continue through joint efforts.

The Bali Provincial Government, Pertamina and security personnel are therefore continuing to oversee distribution to ensure smooth deliveries and maintain the province’s energy reserves.

Bali’s fuel reserves currently cover an average of 11 to 12 days, and the target is to increase this to 15 days.

To clear fuel queues more quickly and restore distribution, the number of tanker vessels carrying fuel from Java has been increased from three to seven.

Koster said particular attention must be paid to the stability of Bali’s energy supplies because the province is a major global tourism destination that is constantly in the international spotlight.

“This needs to be something we all understand: Bali is a major global tourism destination and is watched by other countries. What happens in Bali attracts a great deal of attention; anything that happens here immediately makes headlines around the world,” he said.