Lighting the way: Following in his father’s footsteps to keep S’pore’s power grid running 24/7

“Where are you going, Papa?” Mr Abd Fazil Hussain’s young son would ask whenever he had to attend to urgent maintenance work in the night. 

“To work,” replied the technical officer with SP Group. Little did Mr Fazil know that those late-night assignments he regarded as routine work would quietly inspire his child’s future aspirations.

Today, 23-year-old Shalihin is pursuing a degree in electrical power engineering on a scholarship with SP Group that he successfully applied for. In about a year’s time, the father and son duo will be part of the team responsible for maintaining and renewing Singapore’s electricity infrastructure – cables, transformers and switchgears.

Mr Fazil, 52, is currently working in the cable repair and maintenance team. This team is responsible for the upkeep of underground cables that span over 11,500km in a criss-cross format, forming the backbone of the nation’s power grid. 

When cable faults occur due to wear and tear, third-party damage or extreme weather, Mr Fazil and his teammates’ priority is to restore electricity supply safely and swiftly. Once the electricity restoration is completed, the team will look for the root cause and conduct a test to locate the area of the cable fault, allowing the team to repair or replace the damaged cable.

“In a way, we are like the A&E (Accident and Emergency) department for electricity cables,” he says.

Working in the dark to keep the lights on

The process of detecting cable faults begins by mapping out the general location of a suspected fault. To narrow down the exact spot, specialised equipment is used to send an electrical pulse along the cable, which generates an audible feedback at the fault point. Next, the team will use a highly sensitive listening device to pinpoint the fault location before carrying out the repairs. 

“It’s best to do our work at night when there is less vehicular and people movement as the equipment is very sensitive. We can easily hear footsteps even from afar which interferes with our work,” he explains.

His eyes light up enthusiastically as he describes the technical details and specific tasks he carries out – one that has taken him from bustling roads like the Bukit Timah Expressway to the crowded housing estates of Yishun, and even to the quiet, forested areas near Rifle Range Nature Park.

Thanks to the dedication of power grid professionals and technical specialists like Mr Fazil working behind the scenes, Singapore’s electricity network is among the best performing in the world. On average, an electricity customer here experienced only nine seconds of supply interruption last year. 

The work isn’t glamorous, he admits. It may involve long hours and often, physically demanding conditions. However, Mr Fazil takes pride in being an essential services provider who helps keep society and the economy running smoothly.

Simple acts of gratitude from customers, whether industrial clients or residential homeowners, keep him motivated. He fondly recalls a resident who walked up to him to thank him for helping to efficiently restore power to his home.

“These simple gestures always make my day,” says Mr Fazil with a smile. 

Guiding the next generation

Mr Fazil started his 28-year career at SP Group as a technician in the cable diversion team. His work involved relocating or rerouting cables while ensuring electricity distribution remained uninterrupted. 

As he grew in his role, he was given the opportunity to supervise larger-scale cable diversion projects, such as the lift upgrading programme for hundreds of Housing Board flats from Hougang to Jurong West between 2002 to 2014.

During that period, SP Group recognised Mr Fazil’s potential and sponsored his part-time diploma course in electrical engineering at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. He had to juggle work responsibilities, taking care of a young family and his studies for two years.

“My managers and teammates were incredibly supportive. They provided the flexibility and encouragement I needed to juggle my work, studies and family responsibilities,” says Mr Fazil.

As his career progressed, Mr Fazil also volunteered to guide younger colleagues, impart his hands-on experiences and help them ease into the company. 

He never imagined that one day, he would be welcoming his own son into the same organisation to which he has dedicated his lifelong career. 

A father’s passion, a son’s inspiration

Shalihin began to seriously consider a career in the same industry as his father during a cycling trip a few years back. During their East Coast Park outing, the pair chanced upon an excavation site where electricity cables were laid out as part of ongoing works. Intrigued, Shalihin asked his father what was happening. 

As Mr Fazil shared excitedly about what such an operation was about, his enthusiasm left a lasting impression on Shalihin. 

“I could sense his eagerness and pride,” says Shalihin. 

Just as SP Group supported his father’s studies to advance his career, Shalihin is now benefiting from their sponsorship as he paves his way forward in the energy sector.

Last year, Shalihin applied for and was awarded the Singapore-Industry Scholarship with SP Group. He is set to graduate in 2026 with a Bachelor of Electrical Power Engineering at the Singapore Institute of Technology. 

In the meantime, Shalihin is looking forward to his eight-month internship at SP Group this year. 

“Although it is a short period, I want to start building my foundation and understanding of SP Group’s operations, so when I graduate and join as a junior engineer, I will have a head start,” he says. 

For Mr Fazil, seeing his son pursue a similar path fills him with joy and pride.  

“I’m very proud and excited that he got this scholarship,” he says. “I believe he will do better than me!”

If you are interested in learning more about SP Group’s scholarships,

visit this website for more information

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