Tuvalu’s electricity system is currently stable but remains exposed to risks, Transport and Energy Minister Simon Kofe said on Monday, as the government rushes in temporary back-up and technical support while seeking long-term fixes. Kofe told reporters recent outages were caused by network faults rather than generator failures and that diesel generators themselves are operating well.
As a short-term measure, a rental generator funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is scheduled to arrive on 28 May and will serve as a stopgap for three to six months while permanent units are procured. “A rental generator, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is expected to arrive on 28 May. This will serve as backup for 3–6 months while new generators are procured,” Kofe said. Bids for permanent backup generators are already being invited, with procurement processes expected to advance in early May, he added.
Technical support from international partners is in place. Kofe said technical advisors are currently in-country and that the Government of Japan is exploring sending a Daihatsu specialist to assist the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC) with its existing generators. Australia has also deployed advisors to strengthen TEC’s financial and operational systems and is supporting efforts to boost the country’s fuel storage capacity to reduce vulnerability to supply disruptions.
Work has been under way to integrate more solar power into the grid and to fix compatibility problems that had limited renewable contribution. “Solar integration has improved. Previous compatibility issues with older generators are being addressed, and communication cable issues with the battery system have now been fixed, allowing solar power to support generation,” Kofe said. Public Works and ICT teams are collaborating with TEC to shore up infrastructure and system security, he added.
Fuel supplies are reported to be stable for now, with the next tanker delivery scheduled for 13 May. The government is simultaneously conducting a nationwide assessment of storage needs and strengthening fuel storage as part of wider preparations, supported by Australia, to guard against future interruptions. In the aftermath of the emergency period, the Department of Energy and the Red Cross are carrying out a survey to identify vulnerable households that may qualify for hardship assistance after power and service disruptions.
The update comes as a 14-day State of Emergency, declared in response to the recent energy crisis, comes to an end. Kofe’s briefing signals a shift from crisis-management to a staged recovery combining emergency backups, technical partnerships and steps to accelerate renewable integration — measures aimed at lowering the risk of future blackouts on the low-lying atoll nation.
In a separate regional development, Palau’s elder statesman and business leader Surangel Whipps Senior died on 27 April aged 86, an item noted by Pacific news services as part of this week’s coverage of Pacific island affairs.