ICA to deploy extra generators at Woodlands Checkpoint after failed backup unit led to 4-hour power outage

SINGAPORE — The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will deploy extra generators for future maintenance work after a failed backup generator earlier this month led to a four-hour power outage at the Woodlands Checkpoint.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim told Parliament on Thursday (Oct 20) that the backup generator has been available for use for 23 years and was due for replacement only in 2028 according to its specifications.

But it failed during scheduled maintenance in the early hours on Oct 9 owing to a fresh tear in the air duct of the generator.

The tear caused hot air from the generator to circulate in the room instead of being ventilated outside, causing the generator’s engine to overheat and shut down, he said.

Associate Professor Faishal was responding to questions by several Members of Parliament (MPs) about the power outage, which had led to traffic on the Causeway coming to a standstill and some drivers being redirected to the Tuas Checkpoint.

“While the backup generator has been in operation since 1999, its usage is low. It is only operated when the building power source is undergoing maintenance or during a power failure,” he said.

Assoc Prof Faishal, who is also Minister of State for National Development, said that the backup generator was working fine during a 30-minute test run the morning before it failed. 

The air duct was also inspected visually that morning and found to be in good condition, he added. A full load test on the generator was also conducted in August.

The backup generator had been maintained according to technical specifications and assessed to be in good condition during routine weekly and monthly checks, Assoc Prof Faishal said.

As a precaution, ICA will consider whether the air duct should be replaced periodically in the future even if no tears are detected, he said.

Assoc Prof Faishal said there were no security breaches during the outage because all critical security posts continued to be manned and had emergency lighting. Additional security patrols were also deployed. 

There was no data loss or breach during the power outage because an uninterruptible power supply system had kicked in when the backup generator failed, allowing sufficient time for the servers to be properly shut down, he added.

Dr Tan Wu Meng, MP for Jurong Group Representation Constituency, then asked Assoc Prof Faishal if he would consider that the backup generator was a single point of vulnerability and whether the authorities would conduct an analysis of other risks at border checkpoints in Singapore.

Assoc Prof Faishal said that a review will be held to look into these risks. The authorities also work with “critical infrastructure stakeholders” and hold monthly drills that look into such issues.

“Prior to this incident, ICA had already planned to enhance the power resiliency at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints by building a secondary electrical infrastructure,” he said.