List of power stations in South Africa

South African Energy Grid Capacity
TypeCapacity [MW]
Coal
45,618
OCGT
3,449
Wind
3,562
Hydro
2,290
Nuclear
1,860
Solar PV
1,717
Solar CSP
400
Biomass
71
Landfill gas
26.5
Total Capacity
58,753

South African power grid as of 2022

  Coal (78%)
  OCGT (5.9%)
  Wind (5.7%)
  Hydro (3.9%)
  Solar (3.6%)
  Nuclear (3.2%)
Eskom Nation Grid Production By Source in April 2023

South Africa produced around 245,000 GWh of electricity in 2021.[1][2] Most of this electricity is produced using coal and is consumed domestically. In 2022, 12,300 GWh were exported to Eswatini, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other countries participating in the Southern African Power Pool.[3] In 2022, South Africa imported 10,800 GWh from the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Power Station in Mozambique via the 1,920 MW Cahora Bassa (HDVC) Power Transmission System.[4][5]

Most power stations in South Africa are owned and operated by the state owned enterprise, Eskom. These plants account for 80% of all the electricity produced in South Africa and 45% of all electricity produced on the African continent.[6][7] In terms of share of GDP in 2012, South Africa was the 4th largest investor in renewable power in the world after Uruguay, Mauritius and Costa Rica.[8]

The following is a list of electricity generating facilities within South Africa that are larger than 1 MW capacity. It only contains currently operational facilities and facilities under construction. The net power output in megawatts is listed, i.e. the maximum power the power station can deliver to the grid.

For notable facilities that are not operating or have been decommissioned see List of decommissioned power stations in South Africa.

Coal

South Africa is the seventh biggest coal producer in the world and has rich coal deposits concentrated in the north-east of the country and as such the majority of South Africa's coal-fired plants are located in the Mpumalanga province. Around 81% of South Africa's energy needs are directly derived from coal[9] and 81% of all coal consumed domestically goes towards electricity production.[10] Historically this has given South Africa access to cheap electricity, but it is also one of the leading reasons that the country is in the top 20 list of carbon dioxide emitting countries.[11][12][13]

Power plantProvinceCoordinatesTotal Capacity
MW
Date commissioned
(planned)
Planned decommission[14]OperatorNotes
Arnot Power StationMP25°56′38″S 29°47′22″E / 25.94384°S 29.78956°E / -25.94384; 29.78956 (Arnot Power Station)2,3521971–19752025–2029Eskom[15][16]
Camden Power StationMP26°37′13″S 30°05′38″E / 26.62034°S 30.09378°E / -26.62034; 30.09378 (Camden Power Station)1,5611967–1969;
2005–2008
2020–2023Eskom[16][17]
Duvha Power StationMP25°57′50″S 29°20′14″E / 25.96391°S 29.33727°E / -25.96391; 29.33727 (Duvha Power Station)3,6001980–19842030–2034Eskom[16][18][19]
Grootvlei Power StationMP26°46′S 28°30′E / 26.767°S 28.500°E / -26.767; 28.500 (Grootvlei Power Station)1,1801969–1977;
2008–2011
2025–2028EskomUnits 5 and 6 were the first test facilities for dry cooling in South Africa[16][20]
Hendrina Power StationMP26°01′59″S 29°36′00″E / 26.033°S 29.6°E / -26.033; 29.6 (Hendrina Power Station)1,8931970–19762021–2027Eskom[16][21]
Kelvin Power StationGP26°06′58″S 28°11′38″E / 26.11598°S 28.19400°E / -26.11598; 28.19400 (Kelvin Power Station)42019572026Aldwych InternationalNameplate capacity: 420 MW[16][22][23]
Kendal Power StationMP26°05′24″S 28°58′17″E / 26.0901°S 28.9713°E / -26.0901; 28.9713 (Kendal Power Station)4,1161988–19922038–2043EskomDry cooled; the largest dry-cooled power station in the world.[16][24][25]
Komati Power StationMP26°05′24″S 29°28′19″E / 26.09000°S 29.47194°E / -26.09000; 29.47194 (Komati Power Station)1,0001961–1966;
2009–2013
2022 (Currently Decomissoned)Eskom[16][26]
Kriel Power StationMP26°15′15″S 29°10′46″E / 26.25409°S 29.17934°E / -26.25409; 29.17934 (Kriel Power Station)3,0001976–19792026–2029Eskom[16][27][28]
Kusile Power StationMP25°54′59″S 28°55′02″E / 25.91637°S 28.91709°E / -25.91637; 28.91709 (Kusile Power Station)4,800(2022–2024)EskomUnder construction; 4/6 Units Operational[29][30]
Dry cooled[31][32][33] (Planned:4,800MW)
Lethabo Power StationFS26°44′31″S 27°58′39″E / 26.74194°S 27.97750°E / -26.74194; 27.97750 (Lethabo Power Station)3,7081985–19902035–2040Eskom[16][34]
Majuba Power StationMP27°06′02″S 29°46′17″E / 27.10047°S 29.77136°E / -27.10047; 29.77136 (Majuba Power Station)4,1101996–20012046–2050Eskom3 units dry cooled (0.2 l/kWh), 3 units wet cooled (2.0 l/kWh)[16][35]
Matimba Power StationLP23°40′06″S 27°36′38″E / 23.66846°S 27.61062°E / -23.66846; 27.61062 (Matimba Power Station)3,9901987–19912037–2041EskomDry-cooled[16][36]
Matla Power StationMP26°16′57″S 29°08′27″E / 26.28249°S 29.14072°E / -26.28249; 29.14072 (Matla Power Station)3,6001979–19832029–2033Eskom

[16][37]

Medupi Power StationLP23°42′S 27°33′E / 23.700°S 27.550°E / -23.700; 27.550 (Medupi Power Station)4,8002021EskomConstructed; 5/6 Units Operational due to Unit 4 Explosion[29][30]
Dry cooled[33][38] (Planned:4,764MW)
Pretoria West Power StationGP25°45′28″S 28°08′49″E / 25.75775°S 28.14692°E / -25.75775; 28.14692 (Pretoria West Power Station)18019522016City of TshwaneNameplate capacity: 190 MW[39][40]
Rooiwal Power StationGP25°33′21″S 28°14′18″E / 25.55580°S 28.23834°E / -25.55580; 28.23834 (Rooiwal Power Station)30019632025City of TshwaneNameplate capacity: 600 MW[39][40]
Tutuka Power StationMP26°46′43″S 29°21′07″E / 26.77860°S 29.35208°E / -26.77860; 29.35208 (Tutuka Power Station)3,6541985–19902035–2040Eskom[16][41]
Total:48,264

Open cycle gas turbine (OCGT)

Power plantProvinceCoordinatesInstalled capacity
(MW)
Date
commissioned
OperatorNotes
Acacia Power StationWC33°53′00″S 18°32′08″E / 33.88328°S 18.53546°E / -33.88328; 18.53546 (Acacia Power Station)1711976Eskom[42] 3x 57MW
Ankerlig Power StationWC33°35′32″S 18°27′37″E / 33.5921°S 18.4602°E / -33.5921; 18.4602 (Ankerlig Power Station)1,3272007Eskom[43] 4x 148MW

5x 147MW

Gourikwa Power StationWC34°10′00″S 21°57′38″E / 34.1666°S 21.9606°E / -34.1666; 21.9606 (Gourikwa Power Station)7402007Eskom[43] 5x 148MW
Newcastle Cogeneration PlantKZN27°47′08″S 29°58′11″E / 27.7854446°S 29.9695866°E / -27.7854446; 29.9695866 (Newcastle Cogeneration Plant)182007IPSA Group[44] 1x 18MW
Port Rex Power StationEC33°01′43″S 27°52′52″E / 33.02860°S 27.88106°E / -33.02860; 27.88106 (Port Rex Power Station)1711976Eskom[42] 3x 57MW
Avon Peaking PowerKZN29°25′10″S 31°09′41″E / 29.419567°S 31.161514°E / -29.419567; 31.161514 (Avon Peaking Power)6702016Engie Energy[45][46][47] 4x 167.5MW
Dedisa Peaking PowerEC33°44′33″S 25°40′22″E / 33.742364°S 25.672715°E / -33.742364; 25.672715 (Dedisa Peaking Power)3352015Engie EnergyR3.5 billion (2015)[45][46][48][49] 2x 167.5MW
Total:3,43227 OCGT units

Natural Gas

Power plantProvinceInstalled capacity
(MW)
Commissioned
Richards Bay Gas Power PlantKZN30002028
KarpowershipKZN, EC, WC12202023 Q3

(2 x 225) Coega(2 x 225) Richards Bay(2 x 160)Saldanha Bay

Total4220

Pumped storage

For a more complete list of hydro power stations from large to pico size, see the African hydropower database.