Nseke — Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nseke is a 260 MW hydro power station in Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is operated by Societe Nationale D'elec. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 260k homes (estimated). It ranks #2 of 15 Democratic Republic of the Congo power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1956, it is around 70 years old — an older, legacy facility. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 84.2% of Democratic Republic of the Congo's electricity; the national grid averages 28 gCO₂/kWh (100.0% low-carbon) (2024).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1000006.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000601482; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 260 MW, Nseke is well above the median hydro plant in Democratic Republic of the Congo (75 MW). Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.

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

Key facts

Share of Democratic Republic of the Congo hydro capacity

9.7% of 2,668 MW across 13 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

3 of 12 dated hydro plants in Democratic Republic of the Congo are older

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

Capacity vs largest hydro plants in Democratic Republic of the Congo

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

Owner

Operated by Societe Nationale D'elec.

Local climate & thermal context

This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 10.3°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 99% below 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: 13/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

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 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 #2 largest hydro power plant of 13 in Democratic Republic of the Congo by capacity.

Democratic Republic of the Congo has 13 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 2,668 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Nzilo · Hydro · 228 MW · Katanga

Location

Coordinates -10.3044, 25.4068 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions