FUNAFUTI — Tuvalu’s power supply is holding steady as the 14‑day state of emergency ends, but Transport and Energy Minister Simon Kofe warned on Monday that risks remain and temporary measures are being rushed in while permanent fixes are procured.
Kofe told reporters that recent blackouts were caused by network faults rather than failures of the island’s generators. “Generators are operating well. Recent blackouts were due to network issues, not generator faults,” he said, underscoring a shift in focus from replacing generating capacity to strengthening distribution and system controls.
As an immediate hedge against further disruption, a rental generator funded by the Asian Development Bank is due to arrive on 28 May and will serve as backup for an estimated three to six months while Tuvalu conducts procurement for permanent units. Bids for those permanent backup generators are expected to open in early May, Kofe said. He also confirmed Japan is exploring support to send a Daihatsu specialist to assist with operation and maintenance of existing plant at the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC).
Progress has also been made on integrating renewables into the national grid. Kofe reported that compatibility problems between older diesel generators and solar installations are being addressed, and a recent fault with a communication cable to the battery system — which had hampered the uptake of solar output — has been fixed. Those repairs mean solar generation can now more reliably support on‑island power, though Kofe cautioned that further infrastructure work is needed to lock in gains.
International and regional technical support is being mobilised. Australian technical advisers are in Funafuti to help shore up TEC’s financial systems and accounts, while local Public Works Department and ICT teams are working with TEC to strengthen system resilience and security. Kofe said technical teams are already on the ground carrying out assessments and repairs as part of the fast‑track response.
The government is also addressing the social impacts of the outage. The Department of Energy, together with the Red Cross, has begun a household survey to identify those eligible for hardship assistance following the emergency. Fuel supply remains secure for the immediate term: the next tanker shipment is scheduled to arrive on 13 May, and measures to increase national fuel storage capacity are being progressed with Australian support.
Kofe framed the measures as the latest development in an evolving response: stabilise supply, provide temporary back‑up, accelerate procurement of permanent generators and continue integrating renewables while strengthening the grid. He stressed that although the state of emergency has ended, work will continue to reduce Tuvalu’s vulnerability to future power disruptions.