South Tripoli is a 147 MW gas power station in Tripoli, Libya. It is operated by General Electricity Company of Libya. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 166k homes (estimated). It ranks #21 of 27 Libya power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1994, it is around 32 years old — long-established. In context, gas supplies about 74.5% 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 WRI1023824.
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 594 MW for South Tripoli 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 · L100000408219; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 147 MW, South Tripoli is below the median gas plant in Libya (1,000 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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 Libya gas capacity
- 0.8% of 17,321 MW across 19 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1 of 14 dated gas plants in Libya is 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 Libya
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by General Electricity Company of Libya. All plants by this company →
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 hot semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSh) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 32.8°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 77% 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: 21/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~4% 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 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 #18 largest gas power plant of 19 in Libya by capacity.
Libya has 19 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 17,321 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- West Tripoli · Oil · 185 MW · Tripoli
- New South Tripoli Gas power station · Gas · 1,320 MW · Tripoli
- GECOL power plant 2 · Oil · 100 MW · Tripoli
- Karpowership (Libya) power station · Gas · 1,000 MW · Port of Tripoli
- AL Zahra power plant · Gas · 141 MW · Zahra
- Az Zawiyah · Gas · 1,440 MW · Az Zawiyah
Location
Coordinates 32.776, 13.0983 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is South Tripoli?
South Tripoli is a 147 MW gas power plant in Tripoli, Libya, commissioned in 1994.
Who operates South Tripoli?
South Tripoli is operated by General Electricity Company of Libya.