Hwange Coal Power Plant Zimbabwe is a 920 MW coal power station in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe. It is operated by Makomo Resources Pvt Ltd [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 1.2 million homes (estimated). It ranks #6 of 25 Zimbabwe power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1983, it is around 43 years old — long-established. In context, coal supplies about 42.9% of Zimbabwe's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (57.1% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEODB0040404.
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
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 920 MW, Hwange Coal Power Plant Zimbabwe is well above the median coal plant in Zimbabwe (600 MW). Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Zimbabwe coal capacity
- 5.9% of 15,630 MW across 21 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1 of 5 dated coal plants in Zimbabwe is older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest coal plants in Zimbabwe
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Makomo Resources Pvt Ltd [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a hot semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 18.4°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 97% 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: 14/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
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
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 #6 largest coal power plant of 21 in Zimbabwe by capacity.
Zimbabwe has 21 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 15,630 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- ZhongXin power station · Coal · 920 MW · Matabeleland North
- Kazungula thermal power station · Coal · 135 MW · Southern
- Victoria Falls · Hydro · 108 MW · Matabeleland North
- HCCL Lubimbi power station · Coal · 50 MW · Matabeleland North
- Ever Great Energy Zambia power station · Coal · 600 MW · Southern
- Mulungwa power station · Coal · 300 MW · Southern
Location
Coordinates -18.3835, 26.47 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Hwange Coal Power Plant Zimbabwe?
Hwange Coal Power Plant Zimbabwe is a 920 MW coal power plant in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe, commissioned in 1983.
Who operates Hwange Coal Power Plant Zimbabwe?
Hwange Coal Power Plant Zimbabwe is operated by Makomo Resources Pvt Ltd [100%].