FUNAFUTI — Tuvalu’s government says the immediate power emergency has eased but risks remain as it races to put temporary and longer‑term backups in place. Transport and Energy Minister Simon Kofe announced on Monday that a rental generator funded by the Asian Development Bank is now scheduled to arrive on 28 May 2026 and will provide three to six months of backup while permanent units are procured.
The announcement comes as a 14‑day national State of Emergency, declared after a spate of outages and system faults, ends on 27 April. Kofe told reporters that electricity supply across Tuvalu is “stable” and that recent blackouts were traced to network faults rather than failures of generating plant. Technical teams are on the ground addressing those distribution problems and restoring resilience to the grid, he said.
Short‑term measures include the incoming ADB‑funded rental unit and already‑deployed technical advisors. Procurement for permanent backup generators is under way, with bids expected to be called in early May, Kofe said. Japan has offered to explore sending a Daihatsu specialist to assist the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC) with its existing generator fleet, while Australia is providing technical advisers to help shore up TEC’s financial systems and accounts.
Improvements to renewable integration and system communications were also reported. Kofe said solar generation is now better integrated into the grid after compatibility issues with older plant were addressed, and a communication cable problem affecting the battery system has been fixed so solar can support generation more reliably. Public Works Department and ICT teams are collaborating with TEC on infrastructure upgrades to strengthen network security and resilience.
Fuel supply is currently stable, easing some immediate concern about generator operations. The next fuel tanker is scheduled to arrive on 13 May, and the government — with Australian support — is working to increase domestic fuel storage capacity to reduce vulnerability to future shipping delays. Kofe emphasised the need to boost stockpiles as part of national preparedness measures.
Authorities are also targeting social impacts from the emergency. The Department of Energy and the Red Cross are conducting a household survey to identify families eligible for hardship assistance after disruptions during the emergency period. The government said those most affected, including vulnerable households relying on medical equipment or refrigeration, will be prioritised for aid.
While the new timeline for the rental generator and the international technical offers represent tangible progress, Kofe cautioned that work remains to secure long‑term reliability. With procurement for permanent units under way and international support mobilised, officials say the focus now is on stabilising operations, completing infrastructure upgrades and ensuring that both fuel and financial systems can support a more resilient energy service for Tuvalu.