RAFHA — Saudi Arabia
Oil power plant in Al Muthanna, Saudi Arabia. Approximate location 29.62, 43.526.
OilAl MuthannaSaudi ArabiaOCGT
RAFHA is a 305.6 MW oil power station in Al Muthanna, Saudi Arabia. It is operated by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC). Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 229k homes (estimated). It ranks #90 of 156 Saudi Arabia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2016, it is around 10 years old — relatively modern. In context, oil supplies about 34.5% of Saudi Arabia's electricity; the national grid averages 692 gCO₂/kWh (2.2% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1030699.
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: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 305.6 MW, RAFHA is below the median oil plant in Saudi Arabia (364.6 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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 Saudi Arabia oil capacity
- 0.5% of 61,625 MW across 76 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 53 of 68 dated oil plants in Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC). 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 hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 29.6°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 75% 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: 22/100 — 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 benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion 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 #41 largest oil power plant of 76 in Saudi Arabia by capacity.
Saudi Arabia has 76 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 61,625 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Rafha power plant · Gas · 285.5 MW · Al Muthanna
- Saman Cement power plant · Oil · 50 MW · Al Muthna
- Samawah power station · Gas · 750 MW · Muthanna
- Samawah Diesel power plant · Oil · 60 MW · Muthanna
- New Samawah power station · Gas · 375 MW · Al Muthanna
Location
Coordinates 29.62, 43.526 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is RAFHA?
RAFHA is a 305.6 MW oil power plant in Al Muthanna, Saudi Arabia, commissioned in 2016.
Who operates RAFHA?
RAFHA is operated by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC).