Khanyisa power station — South Africa
Coal power plant in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Approximate location -26.76955, 29.200974.
CoalMpumalangaSouth Africasubcritical
Khanyisa power station is a 600 MW coal power station in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is operated by ACWA Power Co [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 751k homes (estimated). It ranks #38 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. In context, coal supplies about 81.4% of South Africa's electricity; the national grid averages 699 gCO₂/kWh (17.8% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEM_coa_khanyisa_south.
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 600 MW, Khanyisa power station is below the median coal plant in South Africa (1,180 MW). Technically it is described as subcritical. 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 South Africa coal capacity
- 0.9% of 67,847 MW across 37 plants in this dataset
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 South Africa
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by ACWA Power Co [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 subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 26.8°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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with humidity / wetness 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 #26 largest coal power plant of 37 in South Africa by capacity.
South Africa has 37 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 67,847 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Tutuka power station · Coal · 3,654 MW · Mpumalanga
- Secunda power station · Gas · 880 MW · Mpumalanga
- Matla power station · Coal · 3,600 MW · Mpumalanga
- Kriel power station · Coal · 3,000 MW · Mpumalanga
- Umbani power station · Coal · 600 MW · Mpumalanga
- Majuba power station · Coal · 4,143 MW · Mpumalanga
Location
Coordinates -26.76955, 29.200974 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Khanyisa power station?
Khanyisa power station is a 600 MW coal power plant in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Who operates Khanyisa power station?
Khanyisa power station is operated by ACWA Power Co [100%].