Termogas Machala 1 power station — Ecuador
Gas power plant in El Oro, Ecuador. Approximate location -3.116985, -79.879169.
GasEl OroEcuadorOCGT
Termogas Machala 1 power station is a 317 MW gas power station in El Oro, Ecuador. It is operated by Corporación Nacional de Electricidad EP [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 357k homes (estimated). It ranks #5 of 34 Ecuador power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2002, it is around 24 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 2.7% of Ecuador's electricity; the national grid averages 159 gCO₂/kWh (79.4% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_termogasmachala1_ecuado.
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 130 MW for Termogas Machala 1 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: GEM GOGPT; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 317 MW, Termogas Machala 1 power station is well above the median gas plant in Ecuador (181 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 Ecuador gas capacity
- 20.2% of 1,570 MW across 8 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1 of 6 dated gas plants in Ecuador 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 Ecuador
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Corporación Nacional de Electricidad EP [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 tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 3.1°S — 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 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 #2 largest gas power plant of 8 in Ecuador by capacity.
Ecuador has 8 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 1,570 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Central Termica Trinitaria · Oil · 133 MW · Guayas
- Electroquil · Gas · 181 MW · Guayas
- Durán power station · Oil · 120 MW · Guayas
- Gonzalo Zevallos · Gas · 146 MW · Guayas
- Saymirin · Hydro · 14.4 MW · Azuay
- Saucay · Hydro · 24 MW · Azuay
Location
Coordinates -3.116985, -79.879169 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Termogas Machala 1 power station?
Termogas Machala 1 power station is a 317 MW gas power plant in El Oro, Ecuador, commissioned in 2002.
Who operates Termogas Machala 1 power station?
Termogas Machala 1 power station is operated by Corporación Nacional de Electricidad EP [100%].