Sihanoukville CEL power station is a 250 MW coal power station in Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia. It is operated by Cambodian Energy Limited. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 313k homes (estimated). It ranks #10 of 27 Cambodia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2014, it is around 12 years old — relatively modern. In context, coal supplies about 56.6% of Cambodia's electricity; the national grid averages 499 gCO₂/kWh (40.9% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1026840.
Data status
Known 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 250 MW for Sihanoukville CEL 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
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000100157; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 250 MW, Sihanoukville CEL power station is below the median coal plant in Cambodia (405 MW). Technically it is described as supercritical. Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Cambodia coal capacity
- 4.7% of 5,360 MW across 8 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 0 of 4 dated coal plants in Cambodia are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest coal plants in Cambodia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Cambodian Energy Limited.
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 10.7°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
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 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 #6 largest coal power plant of 8 in Cambodia by capacity.
Cambodia has 8 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 5,360 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Sihanoukville CIIDG power station · Coal · 405 MW · Preah Sihanouk
- Sihanoukville SEZ power station · Coal · 100 MW · Sihanoukville
- Sihanoukville CSG power station · Coal · 1,200 MW · Cambodia
- Sihanoukville Diesel · Oil · 5 MW · Preah Sihanouk
- EDC Combined Cycle power station · Gas · 4,800 MW · Cambodia
- Kampot power station · Coal · 540 MW · Sihanoukville
Location
Coordinates 10.7402, 103.5808 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Sihanoukville CEL power station?
Sihanoukville CEL power station is a 250 MW coal power plant in Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia, commissioned in 2014.
Who operates Sihanoukville CEL power station?
Sihanoukville CEL power station is operated by Cambodian Energy Limited.