Richards Bay (Mhlathuze Energy) power station — South Africa
Gas power plant in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Approximate location -28.789926, 32.063574.
GasKwaZulu-NatalSouth AfricaCCGT · HRSG
Richards Bay (Mhlathuze Energy) power station is a 3,300 MW gas power station in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is operated by Mhlathuze Energy [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 3.7 million homes (estimated). It ranks #10 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. In context, gas supplies about 0.0% of South Africa's electricity; the national grid averages 699 gCO₂/kWh (17.8% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_richardsbaymhlathuze_southa.
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 GOGPT; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 3,300 MW, Richards Bay (Mhlathuze Energy) power station is well above the median gas plant in South Africa (670 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). 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 South Africa gas capacity
- 17.3% of 19,062 MW across 15 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 South Africa
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Mhlathuze Energy [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 28.8°S — 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 #1 largest gas power plant of 15 in South Africa by capacity.
South Africa has 15 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 19,062 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Nseleni Independent Floating power station · Gas · 2,800 MW · KwaZulu-Natal
- Karpowership Richards Bay power station · Gas · 450 MW · KwaZulu-Natal
- Richards Bay Umbani power station · Coal · 270 MW ·
- Richards Bay Gas to Power Plant 2 · Gas · 400 MW · KwaZulu-Natal
- Phinda power plant · Gas · 450 MW · KwaZulu-Natal
- Phakwe Richards Bay Power Plant · Gas · 2,000 MW · KwaZulu-Natal
Location
Coordinates -28.789926, 32.063574 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Richards Bay (Mhlathuze Energy) power station?
Richards Bay (Mhlathuze Energy) power station is a 3,300 MW gas power plant in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Who operates Richards Bay (Mhlathuze Energy) power station?
Richards Bay (Mhlathuze Energy) power station is operated by Mhlathuze Energy [100%].