Singaporeans are able to live life without so much of a thought about their energy needs, and this is because of our reliable providers. Steadfast and dependable, SP’s contributions have ensured that Singapore has one of the fewest and shortest power outages of cities worldwide. Helping it uphold standards of excellence in energy quality provision are dedicated members of staff. 27-year-old Engineer Dennis Khah and 31-year-old Head of Section Matthew Loong tell us how they ensure that the power is always on for Singaporeans.

Tell us more about your job. Take us through a typical day of work.

Dennis Khah Kok Hong: As an Engineer in Electricity Operations, I lead a team to ensure that the electricity supply to the northern part of Singapore remains uninterrupted. One critical function I have to perform is “health checks” on the transformers and switchgears in the network. My team and I carry out maintenance and repair works, making sure that everything is working optimally. On a typical day, 50 per cent of my time is spent on site carrying out engineering related field work, troubleshooting, and problem-solving with my team. The remaining part of my day is devoted to special projects outside of my core engineering duties where I work in an integrated team with colleagues from other parts of the business, enabling me to hone my management, strategy development and planning skills.

Matthew Loong Kai Jun: I am currently the Section Head of Gas Transmission Projects. My role is to lead a team of Engineers, Technical Officers, and administrative staff to manage the construction of high pressure gas transmission pipelines and stations. We manage three types of projects: building assets to expand the network, managing gas supply connections to industrial customers, and creating pipeline diversions for external parties such as LTA or SMRT for road or new MRT station constructions. We adhere closely to the project scope, and achieve efficiency in terms of timeliness and cost. There is a new challenge to overcome every single day, so it’s never dull here!

Dennis Khah Kok Hong
Executive Engineer, Distribution Network,
Electricity Operations

Bachelor of Engineering
in Electrical & Electronics
Engineering, Nanyang
Technological University

Tell us more about your decision to join SP. Why did you choose it over the other organisations?

Dennis: I chose SP because I’m interested in the power industry. Furthermore, it has Graduate Development Programmes such as the Engineering Development for GraduatEs (EDGE) Programme which combines technical and soft skills training with job postings to critical operational areas that offers engineering graduates a breadth of exposure across different facets of the organisation. The programme provides a good foundation for a career in the industry, and it supports us in our attainment of the Professional Engineering certification. Most importantly, my job at SP allows me to use my knowledge to impact lives – keeping the lights on for Singapore and ensuring that everyone is able to enjoy the comforts and convenience of modern life.

Matthew: I chose to join SP because it is an established organisation that is also well-known worldwide for its quality and reliability. Furthermore, SP is committed to nurturing engineering talent for the power sector. It has a deep-rooted culture for continuous learning and a strong engineering bench with a good mix of committed and experienced professionals and young talent.

Share with us some highlights about your career so far.

Dennis: I was part of the supply restoration team during an electricity outage. Upon restoration of the supply, I could hear clapping and cheering from the blocks. There were even residents who went down to the substation to thank me for the prompt work. This incident gave me a huge sense of satisfaction and was really memorable for me.

I am also currently involved in the Energy Efficiency Taskforce that is jointly headed by SP and the Energy Market Authority, which aims to raise energy conservation awareness among youths and primary school students. During the planning stage, we visited Hong Kong CLP Power Holdings for an exchange of best practices on energy efficiency. Our team has since implemented an energy efficiency programme which reaches out to 16,000 students yearly!

Matthew: Early in my career at SP, I went on a three-month learning attachment to our overseas subsidiary, Jemena, in Sydney. I learnt how the Australians operate their gas transportation network in New South Wales, and I even forged close relationships with several colleagues there. I also went on a learning visit to Osaka Gas Company and Hong Kong and China Gas Company. Again it was interesting to see the differences and similarities of how my compatriots from other parts of the world operate their networks.

I am proud to be part of a core team that developed and implemented the Gift of Power project. This was part of SP’s gift to the nation for SG50, where we provided the community free charging for their mobile devices. The project really stretched the imagination of our team – we brought everyone from gas, electricity, district cooling, customer service, human resources and communications together to do something different for Singapore. Now, it’s great to see SP’s mobile charging stations in hospitals, libraries, and tertiary institutions.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job? How does your work at SP benefit Singapore?

Dennis: Knowing that what you do day to day has an impact on lives in Singapore is fulfilling to me. Here in Singapore, people can have access to electricity at the snap of a finger. This would not be possible without the tenacity and commitment of the staff in SP.

Matthew: The best part of my job is when I successfully complete and commission a project. It is very satisfying to see something physically tangible, such as a pipeline or station, come to fruition because of work that I’ve done. What I construct and build ultimately contributes to Singapore’s economy and the quality of lives of its citizens, and knowing that is a reward in itself. Working with a dedicated team is another great aspect of my job. Everyone works with the purpose of supporting Singapore, and we all strive towards building up a strong engineering foundation to power the nation