Russia Weighs Deploying AI Data Centers in Belarus and Kazakhstan Amid Domestic Capacity Crunch

Russia is exploring plans to deploy AI data centers in Belarus and Kazakhstan as domestic energy and grid capacity constraints increasingly hinder the expansion of computing infrastructure at home, according to reports from Russian news organization RBC citing sources within the country's IT industry.

Consultations are currently underway within the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media, though multiple locations remain under consideration and no final decisions have been made, RBC reported. The discussions underscore growing pressure on Russia's data center sector, which has struggled to keep pace with surging demand for AI and cloud workloads.

Capacity constraints have become particularly acute in key Russian regions. Moscow's available capacity was reported at 22.6GW with a reserve of approximately 12 percent, a margin that authorities have acknowledged is insufficient. The Moscow Times has previously reported that new data centers in the capital cannot be connected to the power grid due to capacity shortages. Municipal authorities have discussed raising the region's strategic energy reserve from 12 percent to 15 percent, though progress has been slow.

Multiple power outages have occurred across the region this year as demand has outpaced forecasts, with some observers speculating that knock-on effects from the war in Ukraine have further strained the grid. Earlier this year, Russia announced the development of two new data centers in St. Petersburg, but overall momentum in the sector has faltered.

Nearly a third of announced data center projects in Russia have stalled, according to industry tracking, largely due to the high cost of capital, rising construction and utility expenses, and persistent difficulty in securing grid connections. The challenges mirror broader trends across emerging markets where AI-driven demand is colliding with aging energy infrastructure.

Should the plans advance, Belarus and Kazakhstan would become the latest destinations for Russian-linked digital infrastructure, potentially easing pressure on domestic grids while raising questions about cross-border data governance and energy cooperation in the region.