AL Zahra power plant is a 141 MW gas power station in Zahra, Libya. It is operated by General Electricity Company of Libya [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 159k homes (estimated). It ranks #22 of 27 Libya power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2018, it is around 8 years old — recently built. In context, gas supplies about 74.5% of Libya's electricity; the national grid averages 827 gCO₂/kWh (0.0% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_alzahra_libya.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000409297; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 141 MW, AL Zahra power plant is below the median gas plant in Libya (1,000 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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.
Key facts
- Share of Libya gas capacity
- 0.8% of 17,321 MW across 19 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 11 of 14 dated gas plants in Libya are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest gas plants in Libya
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by General Electricity Company of Libya [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a hot semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSh) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 32.7°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Climate zone & typical temperatures: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid).
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt corrosion the leading environmental stress.
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 #19 largest gas power plant of 19 in Libya by capacity.
Libya has 19 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 17,321 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- West Tripoli · Oil · 185 MW · Tripoli
- Az Zawiyah · Gas · 1,440 MW · Az Zawiyah
- Double Corner Power Station 1 · Gas · 480 MW · Az Zawiyah
- South Tripoli · Gas · 147 MW · Tripoli
- New South Tripoli Gas power station · Gas · 1,320 MW · Tripoli
- GECOL power plant 2 · Oil · 100 MW · Tripoli
Location
Coordinates 32.679847, 12.878595 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is AL Zahra power plant?
AL Zahra power plant is a 141 MW gas power plant in Zahra, Libya, commissioned in 2018.
Who operates AL Zahra power plant?
AL Zahra power plant is operated by General Electricity Company of Libya [100%].