Merit Pila power station is a 300 MW coal power station in Sarawak, Malaysia. It is operated by Sarawak Energy Bhd [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 375k homes (estimated). It ranks #44 of 82 Malaysia power plants by installed capacity. In context, coal supplies about 44.6% of Malaysia's electricity; the national grid averages 602 gCO₂/kWh (20.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEM_coa_meritpila_malay.
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 300 MW, Merit Pila power station is below the median coal plant in Malaysia (1,400 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 Malaysia coal capacity
- 1.6% of 18,844 MW across 12 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 Malaysia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Sarawak Energy Bhd [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 tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 2.0°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 a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), 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 #10 largest coal power plant of 12 in Malaysia by capacity.
Malaysia has 12 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 18,844 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Balingian New power station · Coal · 900 MW · Sarawak
- Mukah Coal power station · Coal · 270 MW · Sarawak
- Mukah West power station · Coal · 1,200 MW · Sarawak
- TG. Kidurong · Gas · 192 MW · Sarawak
- Unnamed Malaysia coal projects · Coal · 2,800 MW · Sarawak
- Batang Al · Hydro · 108 MW · Sarawak
Location
Coordinates 2.016667, 112.9333 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Merit Pila power station?
Merit Pila power station is a 300 MW coal power plant in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Who operates Merit Pila power station?
Merit Pila power station is operated by Sarawak Energy Bhd [100%].