Tarakhil power station — Afghanistan
Gas power plant in Kabul, Afghanistan. Approximate location 34.561557, 69.294854.
GasKabulAfghanistanEngine
Tarakhil power station is a 105 MW gas power station in Kabul, Afghanistan. It is operated by United States Agency for International Development [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 118k homes (estimated). It ranks #4 of 17 Afghanistan power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2009, it is around 17 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 0.0% of Afghanistan's electricity; the national grid averages 131 gCO₂/kWh (86.9% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_tarakhil_afghan.
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 · L100000408996; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 105 MW, Tarakhil power station is around the median gas plant in Afghanistan (100 MW). Technically it is described as Engine. 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 Afghanistan gas capacity
- 2.5% of 4,216 MW across 7 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 0 of 3 dated gas plants in Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by United States Agency for International Development [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 warm-summer Mediterranean continental climate (Köppen Dsb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 34.6°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).
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with thermal cycling 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 #3 largest gas power plant of 7 in Afghanistan by capacity.
Afghanistan has 7 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 4,216 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Northwest Kabul Power Plant Afghanistan · Gas · 42 MW · Kabul
- Mahipar Hydroelectric Power Plant Afghanistan · Hydro · 66 MW · Kabul
- North West Kabul thermal power plant · Oil · 95 MW · Kabul
- Naghlu Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant Afghanistan · Hydro · 100 MW · Kabul
- Sarobi Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant Afghanistan · Hydro · 22 MW · Kabul
- Nangarhar (Darunta) Hydroelectric Power Plant Afghanistan · Hydro · 11.6 MW · Nangarhar
Location
Coordinates 34.561557, 69.294854 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Tarakhil power station?
Tarakhil power station is a 105 MW gas power plant in Kabul, Afghanistan, commissioned in 2009.
Who operates Tarakhil power station?
Tarakhil power station is operated by United States Agency for International Development [100%].