Samnu Power plant is a 220 MW oil power station in Samnu, Libya. It is operated by General Electricity Company of Libya [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 165k homes (estimated). It ranks #19 of 27 Libya power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1989, it is around 37 years old — long-established. In context, oil supplies about 25.4% of Libya's electricity; the national grid averages 827 gCO₂/kWh (0.0% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_samnu_libya.
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 · L100000408218; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 220 MW, Samnu Power plant is well above the median oil plant in Libya (100 MW). Technically it is described as Engine. 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 Libya oil capacity
- 15.2% of 1,450 MW across 8 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 4 of 7 dated oil plants in Libya 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 Libya
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by General Electricity Company of Libya [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
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 27.2°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).
How it compares & nearby plants
The #2 largest oil power plant of 8 in Libya by capacity.
Libya has 8 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 1,450 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- GECOL power plant 1 · Oil · 100 MW · Sabha
- Sabha power plant · Gas · 855 MW · Sabha
- Sabha 2 power plant · Gas · 750 MW · Sabha
Location
Coordinates 27.221992, 14.889664 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Samnu Power plant?
Samnu Power plant is a 220 MW oil power plant in Samnu, Libya, commissioned in 1989.
Who operates Samnu Power plant?
Samnu Power plant is operated by General Electricity Company of Libya [100%].