Power, Protests & Spies: Secrets Of Pasir Panjang Power Station! | Hidden Histories - Part 3/4

What secrets lie within the ruins of Singapore’s past? In this episode, Reuben Dhanaraj uncovers the turbulent history of the Pasir Panjang Power Station. Built under immense pressure to fuel the nation’s rapid growth, it became both a symbol of survival and a target in a political storm. From anti-colonial fervour, fears of communism, and rising racial tensions to foreign agents targeting the station to destabilise the country, Reuben discovers how workers at the station faced their baptism of fire – learning on the job while strikes and protests shook the foundation of this critical power source.

Reuben then journeys to the Shell Lubrication Plant in Woodlands, part of the first major industry to set roots in the area in 1963. He uncovers how Shell’s pioneering move set off a wave of new entrants, transforming the area from a quiet forest into an industrial powerhouse, paving the way for Singapore’s economic future.

00:00 Exploring old industrial structure
01:47 How much has Singapore expanded?
02:44 Singapore's first power station
07:30 How did the power station work?
09:01 Constructing Pasir Panjang Power Station
14:19 10-year plan to industrialise Singapore
15:08 Housing workers in special living quarters
18:43 Life as a child in the power station
20:45 Engineers on the power station floor
25:50 Singapore's first oil refineries
28:07 Exploring an abandoned lubricant plant
31:32 Blending lubricant oil manually
33:28 Woodlands' transformation into an industrial hub
36:23 Turmoil in the 1960s
39:10 Trade union strikes and the formation of NTUC
40:50 Key infrastructure targeted during Konfrontasi
43:59 Pasir Panjang Power Station today

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About The Show:
What secrets lie hidden in plain sight? Hidden Histories uncovers forgotten stories from Singapore’s landmarks and abandoned sites, revealing secrets and pivotal moments that shaped the nation.
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