Tuvalu has stabilised its electricity supply but is rushing temporary measures to guard against further blackouts, Transport and Energy Minister Simon Kofe said on Monday as a 14‑day state of emergency over recent power disruptions came to an end. The government says the immediate risk has eased because recent outages were caused by distribution network faults rather than generator breakdowns, but partners are mobilising to shore up fuel, equipment and technical capacity.
Kofe told reporters that a rental generator, funded by the Asian Development Bank, is expected to arrive on 28 May 2026 and will act as a contingency for three to six months while permanent replacement units are procured. “Generators are operating well. Recent blackouts were due to network issues, not generator faults,” he said, adding that procurement processes for permanent backup generators are under way and bids are expected in early May.
International assistance is arriving on several fronts. Japan is exploring support to send a Daihatsu specialist to assist technicians at the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC) with maintenance of existing generators. Australia has deployed technical advisors to support TEC’s financial systems and accounts and is also assisting efforts to expand fuel storage capacity to reduce vulnerability to supply interruptions.
Fuel logistics are a key element of the short‑term plan. Kofe confirmed the next tanker shipment is scheduled for 13 May 2026, and said steps are being taken to strengthen on‑island storage so Tuvalu can better weather future delays. In addition, the Department of Energy, together with the Tuvalu Red Cross, has begun a household survey to identify families eligible for hardship assistance after the emergency period.
On the technical side, Kofe reported progress integrating renewable energy into the small state’s grid. Communication cable faults affecting the battery system have been fixed, he said, allowing solar arrays to contribute more reliably to generation and reducing stress on diesel units. Technical teams are already on the ground addressing network vulnerabilities with the Public Works Department and ICT staff working alongside TEC to improve infrastructure and system security.
The measures reflect a two‑track response: immediate backup and resilience work to prevent outages this year, and procurement and capacity building aimed at longer‑term energy security. Kofe characterised the rental generator and incoming technical support as essential stopgaps that buy time for permanent hardware upgrades and improved operations at TEC.
While the government’s update signals reduced urgency, it also underscores persistent risks for Tuvalu, a low‑lying Pacific nation highly exposed to supply chain disruption and extreme weather. The arrival of the ADB‑funded generator, the May fuel shipment and enhanced storage, plus international technical support, are likely to be decisive in whether the country can avoid further emergency declarations while it completes the procurement of new generation capacity.