Laayoune Diesel power plant — Western Sahara
Oil power plant in Western Sahara, Western Sahara. Approximate location 27.15084, -13.19959.
OilWestern SaharaWestern SaharaEngine
Laayoune Diesel power plant is a 72 MW oil power plant in Western Sahara, Western Sahara. It is operated by Office National de l'Electricité et de l'Eau Potable (Morocco) [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 54k homes (estimated). It ranks #1 of 2 Western Sahara power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2017, it is around 9 years old — relatively modern. In context, oil supplies about 100.0% of Western Sahara's electricity; the national grid averages 667 gCO₂/kWh (0.0% low-carbon) (2009).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_laayounediesel_wester.
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 · L100000408222; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
Technically it is described as Engine. Oil-fired plants burn heavy fuel oil or diesel, usually as peaking or backup capacity on islands and grids without gas pipelines; high fuel cost keeps their utilisation low.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Western Sahara oil capacity
- 75.5% of 95 MW across 2 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 oil plants in Western Sahara
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Office National de l'Electricité et de l'Eau Potable (Morocco) [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 27.2°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 #1 largest oil power plant of 2 in Western Sahara by capacity.
Western Sahara has 2 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 95 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Parc Eolien Foum El Oued · Wind · 51 MW · Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
- Parc Eolien Akhfenir · Wind · 202.1 MW · Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
- LA BARCA 1 · Hydro · 52.1 MW · Canary Islands
Location
Coordinates 27.15084, -13.19959 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Laayoune Diesel power plant?
Laayoune Diesel power plant is a 72 MW oil power plant in Western Sahara, Western Sahara, commissioned in 2017.
Who operates Laayoune Diesel power plant?
Laayoune Diesel power plant is operated by Office National de l'Electricité et de l'Eau Potable (Morocco) [100%].