US-based data center operator ChillMine and Netherlands-based energy company AAAS Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a new data center in Botswana.
The new facility will be designed to serve global hyperscale companies, artificial intelligence (AI) computing, and energy-intensive computing operations.
GROWING DEMAND IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
The data center is being built in response to the increasing demand for economically sustainable and reliable data infrastructure in Southern Africa.
The facility will be part of an Energy Hub and Industrial Park project near Palapye.
SOLAR ENERGY AND BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS
The project will also feature a 250-MEGAWATT (MW) SOLAR PV PROJECT currently under development, along with a 100 MW TO 400 MW BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS).
Both partners state that the project will provide a consistent and powerful energy source, ensuring operational stability and efficiency for the data center.
DATA CENTER BOOM ACROSS THE CONTINENT
Data centers have been opening rapidly across Africa. Earlier this week, Nugi Group announced it will build a Tier IV data center in Calabar, Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
Last month, Nxtra by Airtel began construction of a 44 MW hyperscale data center in Tatu City, near Nairobi, Kenya. In July, Teraco completed the expansion of its JB4 Bredell Campus data center in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.
These developments highlight the growing need and demand for data centers across the continent.