Victoria Falls is a 108 MW hydro power station in Matabeleland North, Zambia. It is operated by ZESCO. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 108k homes (estimated). It ranks #15 of 27 Zambia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1936, it is around 90 years old — an older, legacy facility. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 86.2% 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 WRI1022380.
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 · L100000604057; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 108 MW, Victoria Falls is below the median hydro plant in Zambia (120 MW). Technically it is described as run-of-river. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Zambia hydro capacity
- 5.0% of 2,160 MW across 5 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 0 of 4 dated hydro plants in Zambia are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest hydro plants in Zambia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by ZESCO. All plants by this company →
Climate zone & how it works
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a hot semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 17.9°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 a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion 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 #4 largest hydro power plant of 5 in Zambia by capacity.
Zambia has 5 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 2,160 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Kazungula thermal power station · Coal · 135 MW · Southern
- ZhongXin power station · Coal · 920 MW · Matabeleland North
- Hwange Coal Power Plant Zimbabwe · Coal · 920 MW · Matabeleland North
- Ever Great Energy Zambia power station · Coal · 600 MW · Southern
- Mulungwa power station · Coal · 300 MW · Southern
- Maamba plant · Coal · 300 MW · Southern
Location
Coordinates -17.9305, 25.8598 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Victoria Falls?
Victoria Falls is a 108 MW hydro power plant in Matabeleland North, Zambia, commissioned in 1936.
Who operates Victoria Falls?
Victoria Falls is operated by ZESCO.