Secunda power station — South Africa
Gas power plant in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Approximate location -26.5633, 29.1676.
GasMpumalangaSouth AfricaCCGT · HRSGCO₂ modelled
Secunda power station is a 880 MW gas power station in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is operated by Sasol Synfuels Pty Ltd. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 991k homes (estimated). It ranks #31 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2011, it is around 15 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 2,721,800 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 634k cars driven for a year. 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 CT-6234.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 280 MW for Secunda power station, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: Climate TRACE; fuel: Climate TRACE
In context: how this plant compares
At 880 MW, Secunda 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.
~2,721,800 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.
Key facts
- Share of South Africa gas capacity
- 4.6% of 19,062 MW across 15 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 2 of 8 dated gas plants in South Africa are older
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 Sasol Synfuels Pty Ltd.
Local climate & thermal context
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 26.6°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 48% 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: 30/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~0% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).
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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), 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 #7 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
- Khanyisa power station · Coal · 600 MW · Mpumalanga
- Tutuka power station · Coal · 3,654 MW · Mpumalanga
- Matla power station · Coal · 3,600 MW · Mpumalanga
- Kriel power station · Coal · 3,000 MW · Mpumalanga
- Umbani power station · Coal · 600 MW · Mpumalanga
- Kendal power station · Coal · 4,116 MW · Mpumalanga
Location
Coordinates -26.5633, 29.1676 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Secunda power station?
Secunda power station is a 880 MW gas power plant in Mpumalanga, South Africa, commissioned in 2011.
Who operates Secunda power station?
Secunda power station is operated by Sasol Synfuels Pty Ltd.
How much CO₂ does Secunda power station emit?
Secunda power station has modelled emissions of about 2,721,800 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).