Planta Nicaragua power station
Oil power plant in León, Nicaragua. Approximate location 12.178792, -86.767166.
OilLeónNicaraguaSteam
Planta Nicaragua power station is a 106 MW oil power station in León, Nicaragua. It is operated by Generadora Eléctrica Occidental SA [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 80k homes (estimated). It ranks #3 of 19 Nicaragua power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1976, it is around 50 years old — long-established. In context, oil supplies about 37.6% of Nicaragua's electricity; the national grid averages 301 gCO₂/kWh (62.4% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_plantanicaragua_nicara.
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
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000408602; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 106 MW, Planta Nicaragua power station is well above the median oil plant in Nicaragua (61.2 MW). Technically it is described as Steam. 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.
Key facts
- Share of Nicaragua oil capacity
- 15.9% of 665 MW across 10 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 0 of 5 dated oil plants in Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Generadora Eléctrica Occidental SA [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
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 12.2°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 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 #2 largest oil power plant of 10 in Nicaragua by capacity.
Nicaragua has 10 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 665 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- CENSA Amfels IC Poqwer Plant Nicaragua · Oil · 64 MW · Leon
- Puerto Sandino · Solar · 12.6 MW · Leon
- ALBANISA Che Guevara VI VII (Nagarote) IC Power Plant Nicaragua · Oil · 54.4 MW · Leon
- Momotombo Geothermal Power Plant Nicaragua · Geothermal · 77 MW · Leon
- ALBANISA Che Guevara VIII (Leon) IC Power Plant Nicaragua · Oil · 27.2 MW · Leon
- Planta MAN 140 power station · Oil · 148 MW · Managua
Location
Coordinates 12.178792, -86.767166 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Planta Nicaragua power station?
Planta Nicaragua power station is a 106 MW oil power plant in León, Nicaragua, commissioned in 1976.
Who operates Planta Nicaragua power station?
Planta Nicaragua power station is operated by Generadora Eléctrica Occidental SA [100%].