PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD

Electricity

The increased demand for power, because of the rapid pace of industrialization and better housing, has made it necessary to start construction of Stage II of the Jurong Power Station, immediately after Stage I was completed in March this year. Stage II will be completed before the end of 1973.

In anticipation of more demand for power in the middle 1970s, the P.U.B, has decided to build a new power station operational before the end of 1974.

Efforts are constantly being made to ensure reliable and efficient power supply system in the Republic. To this end, a load despatch centre has been developed at Pasir Panjang `A' Power Station. This centre aims at ensuring the safety and reliability of power supplies at high voltages as well as providing alternative supplies by remote control in the event of a power interruption at a substation.

Twenty-seven new rural electrification schemes were completed in 1970. Since 1963, 400 rural schemes have been completed for 45,000 people.

By 1973 every house in Singapore's rural areas can have light and power.

Water

The P.U.B, is undertaking a comprehensive study to develop the water resources in Singapore. With effective anti-pollution we shall be able to extract one-third of the average daily rainfall of 750 million gallons.

Work on the Kranji-Pandan scheme will soon begin. When completed in 1974, it will increase substantially the daily yield and the total storage capacity of our impounding reservoirs.

Extension work on the service reservoir at Jalan Eunos is in progress. The storage capacity of the reservoir will be doubled to 15 million gallons to cater for the increasing demand in the eastern part of the island.

Work will begin soon on a service reservoir of eight million gallons capacity at Mount Faber.

All public standpipes will be gradually removed and meters installed. This will enable rationing during a drought period and avoid squabbles at public standpipes. More than 65 miles of pipes were laid in 1970 to supply water to the housing and industrial estates at Toa Payoh, Jurong, Henderson Road and Kampong Tiong Bahru.

Gas

The Vickers-Zimmer Reformer, which is capable of producing three million cubic feet (85,000 cubic metres) of gas daily was commissioned in 1970. The Reformer uses naphtha as feedstock. This will minimise pollution of the atmosphere.

Another gas-making plant of similar capacity is to be commissioned by the middle of 1973. This will be necessary to meet the demand, which is expected to exceed 300 million units per annum by 1973.

The Board has also been extending the use of its gas to areas outside the city reticulation system. Distribution of liquid petroleum gas is from storage tanks and can reach all areas in Singapore.