Kazakhstan has launched a major project to build Central Asia’s largest data centre campus in Ekibastuz, aiming to position the country as a regional hub for digital infrastructure with a planned total energy capacity of up to 1 GW.

The initiative, known as the Data Centre Valley, has entered an active phase following a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. The project is being positioned as a strategic investment in Kazakhstan’s digital economy and part of its ambition to become a regional centre for data processing and advanced computing.

The government is putting in place the necessary infrastructure and regulatory framework to support large-scale development. Around 1,400 hectares of land have been allocated for the campus, work is under way to secure a power substation, and additional state support mechanisms for investors are being prepared. In the initial phase, 300 MW of capacity has already been reserved, with overall demand expected to grow to 1 GW over time.

The site is expected to host up to ten data centres, including four facilities designed specifically for artificial intelligence workloads, each with a capacity of 50 MW. A central element of the project will be a greenfield zone intended for international partners. An initial 100 MW development has already been prepared, with scope for further expansion.

Continuous improvement 

Infrastructure at the campus will meet the Tier III international standard, with a power usage effectiveness (PUE) ratio of 1.25. To meet the requirements of hyperscale and major technology companies, network latency is expected to be reduced from 80 to 57 milliseconds, bringing it closer to levels seen at leading European internet exchange hubs.

The project is primarily aimed at attracting global hyperscalers and major developers of artificial intelligence technologies. Officials have highlighted Kazakhstan’s access to electricity, favourable climate and the development of trans-Caspian digital connectivity routes as key competitive advantages for hosting large-scale computing infrastructure.

“This is an industry of the future. It is important to use our competitive advantages. All the prerequisites for this project are in place: electricity, climate and the trans-Caspian cable. Therefore, make all the necessary decisions and move forward without unnecessary bureaucracy. I will personally oversee this project. We must move through this process as quickly as possible, work actively, sign contracts and deliver capacity to global companies,” Bektenov said.

According to government estimates, the Data Centre Valley could attract up to $30 billion in investment and create more than 500 highly skilled jobs. Beyond its immediate economic impact, the project is regarded as a cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to strengthen its digital economy and secure a more prominent role in the regional and global digital infrastructure landscape.

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