Vedanta Zambia power station is a 300 MW coal power station in Copperbelt, Zambia. It is operated by Konkola Copper Mines PLC [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 375k homes (estimated). It ranks #12 of 27 Zambia power plants by installed capacity. In context, coal supplies about 10.8% of Zambia's electricity; the national grid averages 120 gCO₂/kWh (87.5% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEM_coa_vedantazambia_zambi.
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
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: GEM GCPT; fuel: GEM GCPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 300 MW, Vedanta Zambia power station is around the median coal plant in Zambia (300 MW). 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 Zambia coal capacity
- 7.6% of 3,965 MW across 11 plants in this dataset
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 Zambia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Konkola Copper Mines PLC [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a humid subtropical (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 12.4°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 91% 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: 17/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
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 moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), 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 #9 largest coal power plant of 11 in Zambia by capacity.
Zambia has 11 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 3,965 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Bancroft Copperbelt · Oil · 20 MW · Copperbelt
- Mufulira Nchanga · Oil · 10 MW · Copperbelt
- Nkana · Oil · 20 MW · Copperbelt
- Luanshya Nchanga · Oil · 14.6 MW · Copperbelt
- Ndola · Oil · 50 MW · Copperbelt
- Ndola Energy (HFO) power station · Oil · 105 MW · Ndola
Location
Coordinates -12.366667, 27.827778 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Vedanta Zambia power station?
Vedanta Zambia power station is a 300 MW coal power plant in Copperbelt, Zambia.
Who operates Vedanta Zambia power station?
Vedanta Zambia power station is operated by Konkola Copper Mines PLC [100%].