Tuvalu’s electricity supply is currently stable but remains vulnerable, Transport and Energy Minister Simon Kofe said, as the government moves to fast-track temporary and longer-term backup arrangements following a two-week state of emergency over recent outages. Kofe told PACNEWS on Monday that recent blackouts were traced to network faults rather than failures of the island’s diesel generators, and that immediate steps are in place to shore up resilience while permanent replacements are procured.
“A rental generator, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is expected to arrive on 28 May,” Kofe said, adding the unit will provide interim backup for an estimated three to six months as the government proceeds with procurement of new generators. Technical advisors are already in-country and procurement processes for permanent backup are under way, with bids expected in early May, he said.
The update also flagged improvements in the integration of solar generation into Tuvalu’s small grid. Kofe said compatibility issues with older generators have been addressed and a previously faulty communication cable linking the battery storage system has been fixed, allowing solar to contribute more reliably to overall generation. That progress reduces pressure on diesel units but does not remove underlying risks, he cautioned.
International partners continue to boost Tuvalu’s technical and logistical capacity. Kofe said the Government of Japan is exploring sending a Daihatsu specialist to assist technicians at the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC), while Australia has deployed technical advisers to support TEC’s financial systems and accounts. Australia is also assisting efforts to increase national fuel storage capacity, a key vulnerability for an island nation dependent on imported diesel.
Fuel supply was described as “stable for now,” with the next tanker delivery scheduled for 13 May, but Kofe and officials acknowledge that limited storage and the time needed to commission new generation mean the situation must be managed carefully. Public Works and ICT teams are working with TEC to strengthen infrastructure and system security, the minister said, while procurement timelines make the arrival of the ADB-funded rental unit a critical short-term safeguard.
Social measures are being rolled out alongside technical fixes. The Department of Energy, together with the Red Cross, has begun a survey to identify vulnerable households eligible for hardship assistance after the emergency period, Kofe said. The survey seeks to target support to those most affected by the recent outages.
While the lifting of the 14-day State of Emergency on 28 April marks a step back from crisis, officials stress the situation remains a work in progress: temporary backup will cover the coming months, international specialists are being sought, and procurement for permanent generators continues. The immediate priority is maintaining steady fuel deliveries and strengthening storage while technical teams stabilise the network to prevent further supply interruptions.