Funafuti, Tuvalu — Tuvalu’s energy system is holding for now, but the government has rushed in temporary measures and partner support after a fortnight-long emergency revealed vulnerabilities in the grid, Transport and Energy Minister Simon Kofe said on 27 April 2026. Kofe said outages that prompted the State of Emergency were caused by network failures rather than problems with power generation, and outlined a short-term backup plan while longer-term solutions are procured.
Newly confirmed measures include a rental generator, funded by the Asian Development Bank, due to arrive on 28 May 2026. The unit is intended to act as standby capacity for three to six months as Tuvalu moves to buy permanent replacement generators; bids for those permanent units are expected to be invited in early May. Kofe also said technical teams are already on the ground and that procurement processes for longer-term assets are underway.
International partners have offered technical assistance. The Government of Japan is exploring support to send a Daihatsu specialist to advise on the island’s existing generator fleet, while Australia has deployed technical advisers to help strengthen the financial and operational systems at the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC). Public Works and ICT teams are working with TEC to harden infrastructure and improve system security, Kofe said.
Progress has also been made on renewables integration, the minister added. Communication cable faults affecting the battery system have been repaired, allowing solar generation to support the grid more reliably. Kofe acknowledged earlier compatibility issues between older diesel units and newer solar equipment are being addressed as teams stabilise the network.
The government is also moving to shield the most vulnerable from the disruption. The Department of Energy, in partnership with the Red Cross, has begun a household survey to identify families eligible for hardship assistance during and after the emergency period. Fuel logistics are being managed closely: Kofe said fuel supplies are “stable for now,” with the next tanker shipment scheduled to arrive on 13 May 2026, and that work is under way, with Australian support, to boost local fuel storage capacity to reduce future supply risk.
The 14-day State of Emergency that prompted these responses is due to lapse at the end of this week, and Kofe framed the incoming rental generator and international technical support as essential bridge measures while Tuvalu raises its longer-term resilience. The sequence of temporary deployments, overseas specialists and procurement of permanent units marks the latest phase of an evolving effort to stabilise power supply on Funafuti and improve the electricity utility’s capability to integrate renewables and withstand future shocks.