Kazakhstan Builds 1 GW Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz to Serve AI Demand by 2029

Kazakhstan is advancing an ambitious plan to establish a "Data Center Valley" in Ekibastuz, in the Pavlodar Region, targeting 1 gigawatt of computing capacity by 2029, primarily to serve artificial intelligence workloads. The project represents one of the most significant digital infrastructure undertakings in Central Asia and signals the country's intent to position itself as a regional hub for AI and cloud services between Europe and Asia.

On November 6, 2026, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov convened a meeting on the project, which is being developed in phases. The first phase comprises three data center buildings with a combined capacity of 304 MW. Construction work has already begun, with foundations and infrastructure under way at the first site and excavation reported as 70% complete at the second.

Kazakhtelecom leads the project and plans to raise financing through bonds, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan and international lenders. The second data center belongs to Firebird AI, a US company. When the deal was announced in July 2026, NVIDIA was named as Firebird's key partner, with plans to deploy approximately 100,000 NVIDIA chips in the first phase. For the second phase, Gaw Capital, Boosteroid and Firebird have signed preliminary agreements covering 480 MW, with potential to expand to 620 MW. Discussions are also ongoing with Aleria, Energy Capital Global and China Energy for an additional 240 MW, possibly rising to 420 MW, though these are not yet final contracts.

Ekibastuz was selected for its status as one of Kazakhstan's main energy towns, home to large coal mines and power stations. Data centers require substantial and steady electricity supply, and the government says about 300 MW is available there currently. Reaching a full gigawatt will require new power capacity, a point officials have acknowledged openly.

KPMG estimates the valley could generate up to $3.1 billion a year in export revenue, mostly by selling computing power to foreign companies. Over a 20-year operational life, total investment is projected at around $115 billion. Both figures are estimates rather than committed spending. The real test comes in 2027, when the first buildings are scheduled to become operational.

For Kazakhstan, the project promises more foreign investment and new technology jobs outside the traditional hubs of Almaty and Astana, while placing additional pressure on the power grid that will necessitate energy infrastructure upgrades. The initiative underscores a broader trend of Central Asian nations leveraging energy resources to attract AI-driven data center investment.