Kazungula thermal power station is a 135 MW coal power station in Southern, Zambia. It is operated by Guoli Energy Zambia Ltd [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 169k homes (estimated). It ranks #13 of 27 Zambia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2026, it is around 0 years old — recently built. In context, coal supplies about 10.8% of Zambia's electricity; the national grid averages 120 gCO₂/kWh (87.5% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEM_coa_kazungulathermal_zambi.
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: GEM GCPT; fuel: GEM GCPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 135 MW, Kazungula thermal power station is below the median coal plant in Zambia (300 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 Zambia coal capacity
- 3.4% of 3,965 MW across 11 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 2 of 5 dated coal plants in Zambia are 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 Zambia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Guoli Energy Zambia Ltd [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
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 17.9°S — 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 #10 largest coal power plant of 11 in Zambia by capacity.
Zambia has 11 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 3,965 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Victoria Falls · Hydro · 108 MW · Matabeleland North
- ZhongXin power station · Coal · 920 MW · Matabeleland North
- Hwange Coal Power Plant Zimbabwe · Coal · 920 MW · Matabeleland North
- Ever Great Energy Zambia power station · Coal · 600 MW · Southern
- Mulungwa power station · Coal · 300 MW · Southern
- Maamba plant · Coal · 300 MW · Southern
Location
Coordinates -17.889746, 25.929457 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Kazungula thermal power station?
Kazungula thermal power station is a 135 MW coal power plant in Southern, Zambia, commissioned in 2026.
Who operates Kazungula thermal power station?
Kazungula thermal power station is operated by Guoli Energy Zambia Ltd [100%].