Zahle Power Plant is a 60 MW oil power plant in Beqaa, Lebanon. It is operated by Electricity Of Lebanon. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 45k homes (estimated). It ranks #8 of 10 Lebanon power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1929, it is around 97 years old — an older, legacy facility. In context, oil supplies about 56.2% of Lebanon's electricity; the national grid averages 390 gCO₂/kWh (43.8% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_zahle_lebano.
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 · L100001004543; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 60 MW, Zahle Power Plant is below the median oil plant in Lebanon (70 MW). Technically it is described as Engine. Oil-fired plants burn heavy fuel oil or diesel, usually as peaking or backup capacity on islands and grids without gas pipelines; high fuel cost keeps their utilisation low.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Lebanon oil capacity
- 4.6% of 1,315 MW across 7 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 0 of 7 dated oil plants in Lebanon are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest oil plants in Lebanon
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Electricity Of Lebanon.
Climate zone & how it works
This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 33.8°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 corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with marine 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 #5 largest oil power plant of 7 in Lebanon by capacity.
Lebanon has 7 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 1,315 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Zouk 1 · Oil · 642.8 MW · Mont-Liban
- Baalback · Oil · 35 MW · Baalbek-Hermel
- Jieh 1 · Oil · 347.5 MW · Liban-Sud
- Salaata IPP power plant · Gas · 825 MW · North
- Zahrani · Gas · 465 MW · Liban-Sud
- Hraishe Power plant · Oil · 125 MW · North
Location
Coordinates 33.82046, 35.900337 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Zahle Power Plant?
Zahle Power Plant is a 60 MW oil power plant in Beqaa, Lebanon, commissioned in 1929.
Who operates Zahle Power Plant?
Zahle Power Plant is operated by Electricity Of Lebanon.