Singapore’s fifth power station, Senoko Power Station, was officially unveiled on 31 July 1977 by then Minister for Foreign Affairs S. Rajaratnam.[1] Situated at the former British Naval Base in Sembawang, Senoko was the largest power station in Singapore when it was finally completed in 1983.[2] The power station was also the most technologically advanced[3] due to its computer-based turbine run-up system and automatic data logging system to keep track of its operating conditions.[4] The technological innovations in Senoko were introduced as part of the Public Utilities Board’s (PUB) effort to enhance the reliability and efficiency of Singapore’s electricity supply.[5]
Senoko Power Station was built by the PUB to meet the growth of electricity demand in Singapore. Planning for the new power station had begun as early as 1971 and by the end of that year, the board had acquired the 26.71-hectare (267,100 sq m) site needed for the power station.[6] Construction of the power station complex began in 1972[7] and by June 1974,[8] the 183-metre chimney stack designed to disperse flue gases from boiler plants to within ground level concentration was completed.[9]
At the time of its opening in 1977, Senoko was only in its first stage of development (Stage I) with three 120-megawatt steam turbines installed. There were another two stages of development (Stages II and III) that were completed in 1979 and 1983 respectively.[10] The completion of Stages II and III – marked by the installation of five 250-megawatt steam turbines – increased Senoko’s generating capacity to 1,610 megawatts, which was sufficient to meet 60 percent of Singapore’s electricity needs until the mid-1980s.[11] Since 2004, these steam turbines have been converted into combined cycle gas turbines for better efficiency and cleaner output.[12]
References
1. Public Utilities Board Singapore. (1977). Souvenir brochure to commemorate the official opening of Senoko Power Station (p. 3). Singapore: The Board. Call no.: RSING 621.31213095957 PUB.
2. Raja to open S'pore’s largest power station. (1977, July 31). The Straits Times, p. 18; Growing demand for electricity supply since 1906. (1977, July 31). The Straits Times, p. 19. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. The Straits Times, 31 Jul 1977, p. 18.
4. The Straits Times, 31 Jul 1977, p. 18.
5. The Straits Times, 31 Jul 1977, p. 18.
6. Public Utilities Board Singapore, 1977, p. 5; The Straits Times, 31 Jul 1977, p. 18.
7. The Straits Times, 31 Jul 1977, p. 18.
8. Joy for 70 workers at 200-metre chimney... (1974, June 19). The Straits Times, p. 12. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
9. The Straits Times, 31 Jul 1977, p. 18.
10. Singapore's power houses on the main island. (1988, June 28). The Straits Times, p. 38. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
11. Gamboa E. (1983, October 8). Historic turn... The Straits Times, p. 12. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
12. Azhar Khalid. (2004, March 31). Senoko sets aside $50m for power plant upgrade. The Straits Times, p. A17. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
The information in this article is valid as at 2014 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.