Plizio Visual Lab
Zara Power Plant
Plizio editorial teamData Sources
energy
Weather…
Water temperature…
The Zara Power Plant is one of Syria's most critical thermal energy facilities, located in the Hama Governorate, about 20 kilometers north of Hama city. Commissioned around the year 2000, the plant plays a central role in stabilizing the Syrian electrical grid. With an installed capacity of approximately 660 megawatts, divided into three units of 220 megawatts each, Zara supplies a significant portion of the electricity needed in central Syria. The plant is designed as a multi-fuel facility, capable of operating on both natural gas and heavy fuel oil, providing flexibility in fuel sourcing. Throughout the conflict, the facility was repeatedly targeted or suffered technical failures due to its proximity to frontlines and strategic areas. Maintenance by the state-owned Public Establishment for Electricity Generation (PEEG) is a constant challenge, particularly due to the scarcity of spare parts and modern technology. Nevertheless, Zara remains an indispensable part of the national infrastructure required for the country's recovery.
- Location: Syria
- Top sights: Khirbat Gharghub · Al Hajariyah · Royal Palace of Qatna
- Nearby: Homs (18 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 8 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 21 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 21 | 14 | 9 |
| Rain mm | 72 | 54 | 37 | 20 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 20 | 38 | 60 |
📋 Practical info
What is this place?
The Zara Power Plant is a critical thermal energy facility in the Hama province, heavily relying on natural gas to provide a substantial portion of the fundamental electricity supply necessary for regional infrastructure.
Visiting
As a highly sensitive and strategic piece of national infrastructure, the entire power plant complex is strictly secured and permanently closed to all public access and general tourist sightseeing.
Where to view it
Safe observation is typically limited to viewing the facility's prominent industrial smokestacks and expansive exterior structures from a considerable distance while travelling along the major public highways connecting Homs and Hama.
Local products
Tourism commerce is entirely absent at this industrial site, but passing travelers might stop in neighboring provincial towns to find essential road trip supplies, simple local snacks, and regional agricultural produce.
Active season
The power station maintains continuous, round-the-clock operations independent of the season, though external visibility across the surrounding plains is significantly clearer during the dry, sunny summer months.
Nearby
While the plant itself is not a destination, those navigating this region often proceed to explore the ancient norias of Hama, the historic ruins of Apamea, or the culturally significant Krak des Chevaliers further afield.
Geography
Facts
- The power plant was officially commissioned around the year 2000.
- It has a total installed capacity of 660 megawatts.
- The facility consists of three identical steam turbine units.
- Zara is located on the banks of the Orontes River for cooling water.
- It can be fueled by both natural gas and heavy fuel oil (mazut).
- The project was originally financed with international assistance (Japan).
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Zara Power Plant (3)
Sights nearby
Frequently asked questions
What is the Zara power plant?
An important thermal power plant for electricity.
Is the power plant accessible to visitors?
No, it is a critical energy facility.
What role does it play?
It secures power supply for large areas.
Why is it important?
It is essential for the power grid.
Where is it located?
Near the town of Zara.
Zara Power Plant: where is it located?
Zara Power Plant is located in Syria.
Zara Power Plant: what is there to see?
Highlights include Khirbat Gharghub, Al Hajariyah, Royal Palace of Qatna.
Zara Power Plant: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Oct.
Zara Power Plant: why is it worth visiting?
The Zara Power Plant is one of Syria's most critical thermal energy facilities, located in the Hama Governorate, about 20 kilometers north of Hama city.
Explore with Plizio
Discover more places in Asia
More places in Syria →
Nearby cities
Al-Hasakah
Al-Hasakah is the administrative center in the far northeast of Syria, a region crossed by the Khabur River.
Qamishli
Qamishli is an important city in northeastern Syria on the border with Turkey and a center of the Syrian Kurds.
Ras al-Ayn
Ras al-Ayn is a Syrian border city opposite the Turkish city of Ceylanpınar, known for its more than one hundred natural springs.
Al-Malikiyah
Al-Malikiyah is the northeasternmost city in Syria and the center of an important agricultural area in the Al-Hasakah Governorate.
Homs
Homs is located in western Syria and serves as a central transport hub between the coast and the interior.
Hama
Hama is famous for its ancient water wheels on the Orontes River, known as norias.
Al-Qusayr
Al-Qusayr is an agricultural city near Homs that has important strategic significance due to its proximity to Lebanon.
Mashta al-Helou
A popular Christian mountain resort near Tartus, known for its pleasant climate.
🗺️
Kafroun
An idyllic village in Tartus Governorate, known for its religious significance and natural beauty.
Hermel
A town in the northern Beqaa Valley, close to the Syrian border and the Orontes River.
Qobayat
A town in the Akkar region, surrounded by green forests and mountains.
Safita
Safita is a city in the Tartus Governorate built on three hills and known for its Crusader fortress.
History & landmarks
Tell Halaf
A major archaeological site in northeastern Syria, famous for its monumental Iron Age sculptures and reliefs.
Masyaf Castle
A historic fortress in the coastal mountains that served as the headquarters of the legendary Order of Assassins in the 12th century.
Qasr Ibn Wardan
A 6th-century Byzantine building complex on the edge of the desert, consisting of a palace, a church, and a barracks.
Deir Mar Musa
A Syriac Catholic monastery built high on the steep slopes of a desert gorge near Nabk.
Nature
Khabur
The Khabur is the largest tributary of the Euphrates in Syria, shaping the fertile Al-Jazira region.
Tigris
The Tigris River touches Syria only along a short border section in the extreme northeast, forming the border with Iraq.
Lake Qattinah
Lake Qattinah is a historical lake southwest of Homs, featuring a dam that partly dates back to antiquity.
Orontes River
The Nahr el-Assi is the only river in Lebanon that flows northwards.
More places
🗺️
Mount Abd al-Aziz
Mount Abd al-Aziz is a prominent mountain range in the Al-Hasakah region, serving as a nature reserve and protecting endangered animal sp…
Al-Jazira Cotton Fields
The extensive agricultural areas in northeastern Syria, which traditionally form the heart of Syrian cotton production.
Al-Rastan Farmlands
The agricultural land around the Al-Rastan Dam, making the Orontes valley a productive zone.
Orontes Valley
The Orontes Valley cuts through western Syria and has formed an essential agricultural and cultural lifeline for millennia.
Homs Refinery
Syria's oldest refinery, located in the center of the country, producing mainly for domestic fuel needs.
🗺️
Hassia Industrial City
A strategically located industrial zone south of Homs, specializing in heavy industry and automotive assembly.
Krak des Chevaliers
One of the best-preserved Crusader castles in the world.
🗺️
Jabal al-Shumariyah
Jabal al-Shumariyah is a mountain range in the Homs Governorate that marks the transition from fertile plains to the desert.