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Abu Kir

Gas power plant in Al Buhayrah, Egypt. Approximate location 31.2694, 30.1409.

GasAl BuhayrahEgyptSteam

Abu Kir is a 2,236 MW gas power station in Al Buhayrah, Egypt. It is operated by Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC). Based on reported annual generation of 12,275 GWh, it can supply roughly 3.5 million homes. It ranks #12 of 89 Egypt power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1983, it is around 43 years old — long-established. In context, gas supplies about 79.6% of Egypt's electricity; the national grid averages 563 gCO₂/kWh (13.0% low-carbon) (2025).

2,236Legacy source-record capacity
12,275GWh reported / yr
3,507,142homes powered
1983commissioned (~43 yrs)

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1000099.

Data status

Known data

FacilityAbu Kir WRI
CountryEgypt · Al Buhayrah WRI
Coordinates31.2694, 30.1409 WRI
FuelGas WRI
MW installed capacity2,236 MW WRI source record; scope not independently normalised
OwnerEgyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) WRI
Commissioned1983 WRI
TechnologySteam WRI
GWh reported / yr12,275 GWh/yr WRI
Observed long-tail demand6 GSC impressions (abu kir) Google Search Console

Calculated from dataset

CO₂ emissions4,910,000 t CO₂/yr calculated
Capacity rank in country#12 of 89 calculated
Fuel-specific rank in country#8 of 48 calculated
Capacity vs country/fuel peers3.28× · 682 MW median · 48 peers calculated
Homes-powered equivalent3,507,142 calculated from reported generation
Climate20.9°C · HDD 332 derived from coordinates
Environmental severityC5 · 63/100 derived from coordinates

Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.

Data provenance

The capacity and fuel fields on this page are source-record values from the upstream open dataset. They are useful for identification and ranking, but they have not been upgraded to a 2026 registry/GEM-location verified value.

capacity: WRI Global Power Plant Database source-record (legacy); fuel: WRI source-record fuel

In context: how this plant compares

At 2,236 MW, Abu Kir is well above the median gas plant in Egypt (682 MW). Technically it is described as Steam. Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Capacity vs largest gas plants in Egypt

Beni Suef power plant: 4,800 MW5kBeni Suef …Burullus power plant: 4,800 MW5kBurullus p…New Capital power station: 4,800 MW5kNew Capita…Kuriemat 2: 2,754 MW3kKuriemat 2North Giza: 2,250 MW2kNorth GizaNubaria: 2,250 MW2kNubariaLuxor Project power station: 2,250 MW2kLuxor Proj…Abu Kir: 2,236 MW2kAbu Kir

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC).

Local climate & thermal context

This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 31.3°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

20.9°Cannual mean temp
332heating degree-days (base 18°C)
1,394cooling degree-days (base 18°C)
-1 melevation

Monthly mean temperature

J: 14 °CJF: 14 °CFM: 16 °CMA: 19 °CAM: 22 °CMJ: 25 °CJJ: 26 °CJA: 27 °CAS: 26 °CSO: 24 °CON: 20 °CND: 16 °CD27 °C

Heating degree-days here run 86% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 18/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~4% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

For a plant’s outdoor hardware — heat-recovery steam generators (HRSG), expansion joints, valves, flanges and their insulation — the local climate sets how fast unprotected steel and coatings degrade. This site sits in an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt corrosion the leading environmental stress.

C5ISO 9223 corrosivity (indicative)
63/100environmental-severity index
12.8°Cseasonal temperature swing
10 kmdistance to coast

Higher environmental severity is exactly where protective removable insulation pays back most: a sheltered micro-climate slows corrosion, UV and thermal-cycling damage and extends outdoor hardware service life. This is an indicative site-climate context — not a condition assessment of any specific plant or operator.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #8 largest gas power plant of 48 in Egypt by capacity.

Egypt has 48 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 51,243 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

Location

Coordinates 31.2694, 30.1409 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions

What type of power plant is Abu Kir?

Abu Kir is a 2,236 MW source-record gas power plant in Al Buhayrah, Egypt, commissioned in 1983.

How much electricity does Abu Kir generate?

Abu Kir generates about 12,275 GWh of electricity per year.

How many homes can Abu Kir power?

Its output is enough to supply roughly 3,507,142 homes.

Who operates Abu Kir?

Abu Kir is operated by Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC).

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