A major power outage swept across Bali on Friday, May 2, 2025, causing flight delays at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. The blackout began around 4:00 PM local time and affected various regions of the island, including critical infrastructure such as the airport.
According to Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, General Manager of Ngurah Rai Airport, while incoming flights were largely unaffected, several departures experienced delays. "Flight arrivals are proceeding normally for now. However, some outbound flights are delayed due to the incident," he stated in an official release.
The delays were caused by the transition period between the main power supply from state electricity provider PLN and the airport’s backup generators. "Airport services are currently running on generator power, and we’ve secured sufficient diesel fuel as a preventive measure," Ahmad added.
The blackout reportedly impacted the entire island for several hours. Bali’s electricity is primarily supplied from power plants in Java, notably the Paiton power station in East Java, with transmission via underwater cables beneath the Bali Strait.
Despite the unexpected disruption, airport authorities assured the public that they were making every effort to maintain operations and were in constant coordination with relevant stakeholders. "We are working hard to ensure services continue smoothly amid the outage," Ahmad emphasized.
By early evening, electricity had begun to return in several areas. In Sukasada, Buleleng, power was restored at approximately 5:15 PM local time. Residents in other parts of the island also reported the return of electricity. “The power came back after being out for about an hour,” said Farah Ferbiliana, a resident of Sanggulan village in Kediri district, Tabanan.
However, some regions experienced longer outages. In Batungsel village, Pupuan district, also in Tabanan, power remained out until 6:30 PM, nearly two and a half hours after the initial blackout.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of Bali’s energy infrastructure and the importance of contingency planning, especially in hubs critical to tourism and international travel.