Asir Central power plant — Saudi Arabia
Gas power plant in Asir, Saudi Arabia. Approximate location 18.27605, 42.537955.
GasAsirSaudi ArabiaOCGT
Asir Central power plant is a 432 MW gas power station in Asir, Saudi Arabia. It is operated by Saudi Electricity Co [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 487k homes (estimated). It ranks #77 of 156 Saudi Arabia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2003, it is around 23 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 63.3% of Saudi Arabia's electricity; the national grid averages 692 gCO₂/kWh (2.2% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_asircentral_saudia.
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 · L100000407995; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 432 MW, Asir Central power plant is below the median gas plant in Saudi Arabia (496.7 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 Saudi Arabia gas capacity
- 0.5% of 89,013 MW across 71 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 14 of 60 dated gas plants in Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Saudi Electricity Co [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 cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 18.3°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 a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion 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 #41 largest gas power plant of 71 in Saudi Arabia by capacity.
Saudi Arabia has 71 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 89,013 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- ASIR · Oil · 695.8 MW · Mintaqat `Asir
- SHUQAIQ IWPP · Oil · 1,020 MW · Jizan
- Shuqaiq 2 Independent Water and Power Project · Oil · 1,020 MW · Jizan
- Shuqaiq Steam Power Plant · Oil · 2,640 MW · Jizan
- AL-SHUQAIQ-1 · Other · 151 MW · Jizan
- SHUAIBA (SWCC) · Oil · 910.8 MW · Jizan
Location
Coordinates 18.27605, 42.537955 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Asir Central power plant?
Asir Central power plant is a 432 MW gas power plant in Asir, Saudi Arabia, commissioned in 2003.
Who operates Asir Central power plant?
Asir Central power plant is operated by Saudi Electricity Co [100%].