Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo) — Mexico
Oil power plant in Colima, Mexico. Approximate location 19.0278, -104.3192.
OilColimaMexicoCCGT · HRSGCO₂ modelled
Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo) is a 1,300 MW oil power station in Colima, Mexico. It is operated by CFE. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 976k homes (estimated). It ranks #11 of 366 Mexico power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1982, it is around 44 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 8,352,200 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 1.9 million cars driven for a year. In context, oil supplies about 9.4% of Mexico's electricity; the national grid averages 474 gCO₂/kWh (25.9% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id MEX0001770.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 2,927 MW for Manzanillo (Manuel Álvarez Moreno) power, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000406229; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,300 MW, Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo) is well above the median oil plant in Mexico (300 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). 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.
~8,352,200 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.
Key facts
- Share of Mexico oil capacity
- 10.8% of 12,022 MW across 27 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 5 of 18 dated oil plants in Mexico are older
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 Mexico
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by CFE. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 19.0°N — 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 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 #3 largest oil power plant of 27 in Mexico by capacity.
Mexico has 27 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 12,022 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo) Paquete I · Gas · 727 MW · Colima
- Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo) Paquete II · Gas · 727 MW · Colima
- Ingenio Melchor Ocampo · Biomass · 6.1 MW · Jalisco
- Ingenio Quesería · Biomass · 5.5 MW · Colima
- Hidroelectricidad del Pacifico · Hydro · 9.2 MW · Jalisco
- Atenquique Paper power station · Biomass · 15.5 MW · Jalisco
Location
Coordinates 19.0278, -104.3192 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo)?
Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo) is a 1,300 MW oil power plant in Colima, Mexico, commissioned in 1982.
Who operates Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo)?
Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo) is operated by CFE.
How much CO₂ does Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo) emit?
Manuel Álvarez Moreno (Manzanillo) has modelled emissions of about 8,352,200 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).