Tuvalu’s power supply has returned to a stable footing as a 14‑day State of Emergency ends, but the government says urgent backup and longer‑term fixes are being fast‑tracked after recent outages exposed vulnerabilities in the network. Transport and Energy Minister Simon Kofe told reporters on Monday that recent blackouts were caused by network faults rather than failures of generating units, and that international support is lining up to bolster resilience.
Kofe said a rental generator funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is scheduled to arrive on 28 May and will act as temporary backup for three to six months while the government completes procurement of permanent replacement units. Technical advisers are already in Funafuti, he added, and bids for the permanent backup generators are expected to be called in early May as part of a fast‑tracked procurement process.
Tokyo has offered targeted technical assistance: the Government of Japan is exploring sending a Daihatsu specialist to help Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC) staff with the existing generator fleet. Australia is also providing support, deploying technical advisors to strengthen TEC’s financial and operational systems and backing upgrades to fuel storage capacity to reduce risk from supply disruptions. Kofe said the Public Works Department and ICT teams are working alongside TEC to shore up infrastructure and system security.
There has been progress on integrating renewables into Tuvalu’s small grid, the minister said. Solar capacity can now contribute more reliably after teams fixed communication cable problems between the battery system and generators — an issue that had previously limited solar support. Kofe described the fixes as resolving compatibility problems with older generators and improving the ability of battery storage to balance variable solar output.
Fuel supply for generators remains steady for now, with the next tanker delivery scheduled for 13 May, according to the minister. As a precautionary measure, Australia is assisting Tuvalu to increase on‑island fuel storage, a step Kofe said is part of broader national preparations to guard against future shipping or supply interruptions.
The government is also addressing social impacts from the emergency. The Department of Energy, in partnership with the Red Cross, is conducting a survey to identify households most affected during the outage period and to determine eligibility for hardship assistance. That process is intended to provide targeted aid while technical fixes and backup systems are implemented.
While the immediate crisis appears contained, Kofe cautioned that risks remain and continued partner assistance will be crucial. The rental generator and incoming technical support are designed to buy time for longer‑term upgrades that officials hope will reduce the likelihood of similar disruptions in Tuvalu’s low‑lying island communities, where reliable power is vital for health, communications and climate resilience.