Western Coal and Energy power station is a 600 MW coal power station in Harare, Zimbabwe. It is operated by Western Coal and Energy Co [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 751k homes (estimated). It ranks #15 of 25 Zimbabwe power plants by installed capacity. In context, coal supplies about 42.9% of Zimbabwe's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (57.1% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEM_coa_westerncoaland_zimba.
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 600 MW, Western Coal and Energy power station is around the median coal plant in Zimbabwe (600 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 Zimbabwe coal capacity
- 3.8% of 15,630 MW across 21 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 Zimbabwe
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Western Coal and Energy Co [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 17.8°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).
How it compares & nearby plants
The #14 largest coal power plant of 21 in Zimbabwe by capacity.
Zimbabwe has 21 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 15,630 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Dangote power station · Coal · 630 MW · Harare
- Lubu power station · Coal · 600 MW · Harare
- Harare power station · Coal · 90 MW · Harare
- Sunny Yi Feng thermal power station · Coal · 210 MW · Mashonaland West
- Karo power station · Coal · 600 MW · Mashonaland West
- Kwekwe Indarama power station · Coal · 300 MW · Midlands
Location
Coordinates -17.833333, 31.05 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Western Coal and Energy power station?
Western Coal and Energy power station is a 600 MW coal power plant in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Who operates Western Coal and Energy power station?
Western Coal and Energy power station is operated by Western Coal and Energy Co [100%].