Northwest Kabul Power Plant Afghanistan

Northwest Kabul Power Plant Afghanistan is a 42 MW gas power plant in Kabul, Afghanistan. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 47k homes (estimated). It ranks #11 of 17 Afghanistan power plants by installed capacity. In context, gas supplies about 0.0% of Afghanistan's electricity; the national grid averages 131 gCO₂/kWh (86.9% low-carbon) (2024).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEODB0040540.

Data provenance

Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.

capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 42 MW, Northwest Kabul Power Plant Afghanistan is below the median gas plant in Afghanistan (100 MW). 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 Afghanistan gas capacity

1.0% of 4,216 MW across 7 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 gas plants in Afghanistan

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

Local climate & thermal context

This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a warm-summer Mediterranean continental climate (Köppen Dsb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 34.6°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 19% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 60/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~0% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).

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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with thermal cycling 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 #7 largest gas power plant of 7 in Afghanistan by capacity.

Afghanistan has 7 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 4,216 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Tarakhil power station · Gas · 105 MW · Kabul
• North West Kabul thermal power plant · Oil · 95 MW · Kabul
• Mahipar Hydroelectric Power Plant Afghanistan · Hydro · 66 MW · Kabul
• Naghlu Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant Afghanistan · Hydro · 100 MW · Kabul
• Sarobi Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant Afghanistan · Hydro · 22 MW · Kabul
• Nangarhar (Darunta) Hydroelectric Power Plant Afghanistan · Hydro · 11.6 MW · Nangarhar

Location

Coordinates 34.5638, 69.1134 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions