Kazakhstan Builds a Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz
The authorities of Kazakhstan, in collaboration with the Pavlodar region, are promoting an ambitious project to establish a data center complex in the town of Ekibastuz. The plan is based on using the energy resources of the area, specifically electricity generated from coal extracted right there. The leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has emphasized the need to activate new electricity generation capacity immediately, without depending on the completion of the projected nuclear power plants. ⚡
Electricity as the Foundation for Digital Growth
Tokayev has compared the energy demand of a large data center to that of a large-scale metal smelter. Therefore, he insists that ensuring the country can produce all the electricity it needs is a primary objective. According to the data he has provided, the country's total generation in 2025 reached 123 billion kilowatt-hours, an amount he considers insufficient to achieve all the economic and technological goals that have been set. This information processing valley fits into the strategy to strengthen the national electricity grid.
Key Points of the Energy Project:- Use local coal to produce the electricity required by the servers.
- Create generation capacity urgently and with priority.
- Integrate a traditional industry (mining) with a cutting-edge one (technology).
The country must use its competitive advantages, including its enormous coal reserves.
Leveraging Own Resources to Compete
The Kazakh president has highlighted the importance of employing the country's natural advantages. Kazakhstan has estimated reserves of approximately 33 billion tons of coal. At the current consumption rate, this resource could supply the country for about 300 years. This approach seeks to transform a fossil fuel into the engine for tomorrow's industry, such as storing and processing digital data.
Factors Defining the Strategy:- Have a large amount of coal as an indigenous energy resource.
- Convert a traditional asset into support for digital growth.
- Ensure a stable and long-term electricity supply for technology.
A Fusion Between the Classic and the Modern
While in other regions of the world the closure of coal-fired thermal power plants is being considered, in Kazakhstan they see the potential of this resource to boost their digital future. The vision is clear: the smoke that once symbolized heavy industry will now fuel the data vapor circulating through the servers. It is a decision that intertwines the established economy with the emerging one through the same cable. 🔌