SINGAPORE - Singapore Power (SP) said on Monday (July 27) that it is gifting the nation with the free use of 200 mobile charging stations for SG50.

The stations, which will be available for one to two years, will be launched progressively in busy locations including hospitals, tertiary institutions, libraries and supermarkets. At least 20 stations are expected to be installed by mid-August, with about 40 more added monthly. All units are expected to be in place by December this year.

Each unit is equipped with 10 individual slots, which contain multiple charging tips such as mini and micro USBs which will fit most mobile phones and tablets, and a blank USB port for users to insert their own chargers.

To use the charging station, members of the public can follow the on-screen instructions displayed in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.

They will need to scan the barcode of a personal identification card such as an NRIC, driving licence, student pass or senior citizen concession card, and create a 4-digit personal identification number (PIN) before plugging in their device.

The same two-step authentication process is used to retrieve the device.

Speaking at the unveiling at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) on Monday afternoon, SP Group CEO Wong Kim Yin said that the "Gift of Power" is aimed at alleviating the stress of modern life by helping Singaporeans stay connected.

"Almost all of us carry a mobile phone with us, and running out of power can be distressing. This allows us to get a power boost on the go while attending to other daily tasks," he said.

As of now, there are eight charging stations up and running.

Three are located at SGH - two at the Academia building and one at the Singapore National Eye Centre - and five are at NTUC Fairprice supermarkets at Hougang St 21, Ang Mo Kio Hub, Thomson Plaza, Nex, and The Woodgrove.

For an up-to-date list of charging station sites, click here.