Tuvalu’s electricity network is holding steady but authorities are racing to shore up backup systems and shore up resilience after a fortnight-long emergency, 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 provide temporary cover for an estimated three to six months while procurement of permanent generators proceeds, Kofe told reporters in Funafuti.
Kofe stressed the immediate risk to power users is lower than earlier feared because recent blackouts were caused by network faults rather than failures of the island nation’s generator fleet. “Generators are operating well. Recent blackouts were due to network issues, not generator faults,” he said, noting that technical advisers are already in Tuvalu assessing the system and supporting recovery work as a 14‑day state of emergency comes to an end this week.
The government says progress has also been made on integrating solar energy into the grid. Compatibility problems between older generators and renewable systems have been addressed, and a communication cable fault in the battery system has been fixed, allowing solar arrays to contribute more reliably to generation. Japan is exploring a targeted technical response, with discussions underway about sending a Daihatsu specialist to assist local engineers at the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC).
Procurement of permanent backup units is moving forward. Kofe said bids for long‑term generators were expected in early May, with the ADB‑funded rental machine intended to bridge the gap while contracts are finalised and new equipment is delivered. Technical teams from partner countries are on the ground to fast‑track specifications, testing and installation advice, he added.
Authorities are also identifying households hardest hit during recent outages. The Department of Energy, in partnership with the Red Cross, has begun a survey of affected communities to determine eligibility for hardship assistance. The government has sought to limit social impacts as work continues to stabilise supplies and reduce the chance of prolonged outages.
Australia is providing support to strengthen the institutional capacity of TEC, with technical advisers assisting improvements to financial management and operational systems. The Public Works Department and local ICT teams are working alongside TEC to bolster infrastructure and system security, Kofe said. Fuel stocks remain stable for the moment, with the next tanker shipment scheduled for 13 May, and Canberra is assisting efforts to increase national fuel storage to better withstand future supply disruptions.
While the immediate situation is described as stable, Kofe warned risks remain until permanent backup and storage upgrades are in place. The arrival of the ADB rental generator later this month and the imminent procurement timeline mark the latest steps in a broader push to reduce Tuvalu’s vulnerability to network faults, fuel supply delays and the operational challenges of integrating renewables on a small, dispersed grid.