Tuvalu’s power system is holding steady for now but Canberra, Tokyo and regional partners are rushing backup measures as the government seeks to lock in longer-term fixes, Transport and Energy Minister Simon Kofe said on Monday. A rental generator funded by the Asian Development Bank is due to arrive on 28 May and will act as an interim backup for three to six months while permanent units are procured, Kofe told reporters in Funafuti.
Kofe said recent blackouts were caused by distribution network faults rather than failures of the island’s generators. “Generators are operating well. Recent blackouts were due to network issues, not generator faults,” he said, adding that technical teams are already on the ground to address the problems and support emergency repairs. Procurement for permanent backup generators is under way, with bids for new equipment expected in early May, he said.
International partners have stepped in to assist. The Government of Japan is exploring sending a Daihatsu specialist to help with the existing generators, while Australia has deployed technical advisers to support financial systems and accounting at the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC). Kofe said Public Works Department and ICT teams were also working with TEC to shore up infrastructure and system security.
Tuvalu has also made progress integrating solar into the grid, Kofe said, noting that compatibility issues with older generators are being addressed and a communication cable fault with the battery system has been fixed. Those repairs mean solar generation is now better able to support the power system, he added.
Fuel supply remains stable for the moment, with the next tanker delivery scheduled for 13 May. Kofe said national preparations include efforts to increase fuel storage capacity with assistance from Australia to guard against future disruptions.
The government is also identifying and supporting households affected by the emergency. The Department of Energy, together with the Red Cross, is conducting a survey to find vulnerable households eligible for hardship assistance, Kofe said. The 14-day State of Emergency declared earlier this month is due to end this week, and the rental generator — when it arrives — will provide an added layer of resilience during the procurement and installation of permanent replacement units.
The latest developments represent a coordinated mix of short-term redundancy and steps toward longer-term resilience: temporary ADB-funded generation, on-the-ground technical teams and international specialist support, strengthened solar-battery integration and moves to boost fuel storage and TEC’s operational systems.