Manuel Belgrano I power station — Argentina

Manuel Belgrano I power station is a 868 MW gas power station in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is operated by Energía Argentina SA [65%]; Central Puerto SA [10%]; Pampa Energi. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 978k homes (estimated). It ranks #12 of 275 Argentina power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2010, it is around 16 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 52.7% of Argentina's electricity; the national grid averages 346 gCO₂/kWh (41.6% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_manuelbelgranoi_argent.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000406443; fuel: GEM GOGPT

In context: how this plant compares

At 868 MW, Manuel Belgrano I power station is well above the median gas plant in Argentina (125 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG); Siemens Energy: SGT5-4000F, Siemens Energy: SGT5-4000F, Siem. Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Share of Argentina gas capacity

3.8% of 22,760 MW across 95 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

33 of 63 dated gas plants in Argentina are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest gas plants in Argentina

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Energía Argentina SA [65%]; Central Puerto SA [10%]; Pampa Energi.

Climate zone & how it works

This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 34.2°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 moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), 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 #5 largest gas power plant of 95 in Argentina by capacity.

Argentina has 95 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 22,760 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Manuel Belgrano II power station · Gas · 810 MW · Buenos Aires
• Las Palmas power station (Argentina) · Gas · 202 MW · Buenos Aires
• Parque Pilar thermal power plant · Gas · 99.6 MW · Buenos Aires
• CT MATHEU · Gas · 41 MW · Buenos Aires
• ATUCHA II · Nuclear · 745 MW · Buenos Aires
• ATUCHA I · Nuclear · 370 MW · Buenos Aires

Location

Coordinates -34.1845, -59.006 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions