Maamba plant is a 300 MW coal power station in Southern, Zambia. It is operated by Maamba Collieries. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 375k homes (estimated). It ranks #8 of 27 Zambia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2016, it is around 10 years old — relatively modern. 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 WRI1022376.
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 · L100000104354; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 300 MW, Maamba plant is around the median coal plant in Zambia (300 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 Zambia coal capacity
- 7.6% of 3,965 MW across 11 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1 of 5 dated coal plants in Zambia 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 Zambia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Maamba Collieries.
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 17.4°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
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 #5 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
- Mulungwa power station · Coal · 300 MW · Southern
- Emco Zambia power station · Coal · 340 MW · Southern
- Binga power station · Coal · 2,100 MW · Matabeleland North
- Ezra Energy thermal power station · Coal · 360 MW · Southern
- Kalungwizi power station · Coal · 600 MW · Matabeleland North
- Ever Great Energy Zambia power station · Coal · 600 MW · Southern
Location
Coordinates -17.3529, 27.1859 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Maamba plant?
Maamba plant is a 300 MW coal power plant in Southern, Zambia, commissioned in 2016.
Who operates Maamba plant?
Maamba plant is operated by Maamba Collieries.