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MarketPublished November 3, 2026

Data Centers in Kazakhstan: Data Center Valley and the Astana Campus

Two major public data center projects are underway in Kazakhstan: Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz, Pavlodar Region, with a long-term goal of at least 1 GW, and the 100 MW AKASHI campus in Astana. The initial phases of both facilities are scheduled for commissioning in 2027; currently, public records indicate no operating facilities at either site. Policy can be checked against sources; for on-the-ground implementation, find someone to connect with — details at tumah.kz.

Data Centers in Kazakhstan: Data Center Valley and the Astana Campus

Illustration: AI-generated, not a real photo.

Last verified: November 4, 2026

What Major Data Center Projects Are Underway in Kazakhstan?

According to open materials from the Government, the project website, and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), two projects of distinct character are currently repeatedly referenced:

ProjectLocationPlanned capacityFirst phasePromotersSource
Data Center ValleyEkibastuz, Pavlodar RegionAt least 1 GW in the long term50 MW, planned commissioning in Q2 2027The Government and Kazakhtelecom, with participation of US-based Firebird AI and NVIDIAOfficial website of the Prime Minister, August 13, 2026; project website (accessed November 4, 2026)
AKASHI Data Center CampusAstanaPlanned capacity of 100 MWApproximately 10 MW, commercial operation planned to begin in 2027Company AKASHI Data Center PLC, financing provided by Eurasian Development Bank (EDB)EDB press release, October 19, 2026

The commissioning dates in the table are planned targets, not completed facts.

Data Center Valley: What Are the Capacity, Progress, and Partners?

Objectives and phased schedule. On October 6, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev stated at a government meeting that Data Center Valley will have a capacity of at least 1 GW; land has been allocated, the operator selected, engineering infrastructure and power supply from the Ekibastuz GRES-1 plant confirmed, and construction on initial facilities has begun. The schedule he outlined calls for bringing 186 MW of data center capacity online in 2027, followed by another 109 MW in the second quarter of 2028 (official website of the Prime Minister, October 6, 2026). Together these two phases total 295 MW — a figure calculated by summing the released numbers, as the official press release did not state a total.

Progress on the initial facility. An August 13, 2026 press release from the Prime Minister's office noted: at the first 50 MW facility, foundation excavation was 90% complete; plans call for completing the main buildings of the data center and energy center by the end of December 2026, finishing commissioning in May 2027, and putting the facility into service in June 2027. The project website lists Phase 1 at 50 MW covering 191.8 hectares, with launch targeted for Q2 2027, while approximately 1300 hectares are reserved for expansion, and dates for subsequent phases remain "to be determined".

Power and infrastructure. The same August 13 release stated that the project has acquired a 215 MW substation, completed water network engineering, is designing telecommunications infrastructure, and plans to scale power supply potential in phases up to 1 GW. A June 15 release from the Prime Minister's office also noted that currently available electrical capacity stands at 300 MW.

Partners and investment. On June 15, the Government signed two documents with Firebird and NVIDIA: a strategic cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and Firebird, along with a Binding Term Sheet between Kazakhtelecom subsidiary KT-Telecom and Firebird. The official release cited a total investment volume of $10 billion; the Minister estimated the project will build a computing cluster of about 100 thousand GPUs generating at least $3 billion in annual export revenues (the latter represents the Minister's projection rather than a contract clause).

Why Do the Figures for Data Center Valley Differ?

Statements across different dates and agencies show discrepancies; readers citing them should distinguish each source:

ItemStated figure / DescriptionSource
2027 online capacity186 MW (total data center capacity)Official website of the Prime Minister, October 6, 2026
Initial facility50 MW, commissioning in June 2027Official website of the Prime Minister, August 13, 2026
"First phase" capacity215 MW "fully reserved"; plans to add about 300 MW next yearKazinform citing Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, October 19, 2026
Investment volumeJune release reported $10 billion in signed agreements; October 19 report projected total investment at about $5 billionOfficial website of the Prime Minister, June 15, 2026; Kazinform, October 19, 2026
215 MWSubstation capacity (listed as operational on project website); described on October 19 as reserved first-phase capacityProject website; Kazinform, October 19, 2026

The public materials cited above offer no explanation for these differences. The October 19 release used the term "projected" rather than a contracted sum; clarifying what the 186 MW, 300 MW, and 215 MW metrics each represent awaits further official disclosure.

What Is the AKASHI Campus Project in Astana?

On October 19, 2026, the Eurasian Development Bank signed an agreement in Astana with AKASHI Data Center PLC to provide $31.2 million in financing for its data center project, noting this represents the first data center construction project in its investment portfolio (EDB press release, October 19, 2026).

The press release detailed: total planned capacity for the campus is 100 MW, with an initial phase of approximately 10 MW; the design documentation for AKASHI Data Center 1, Phase 1, has received the Tier IV Certification of Design Documents from the US-based Uptime Institute (the certification covers the design documents, not a completed facility); total project investment is approximately $354 million; once built, the campus will comprise four independent data center modules supported by dedicated power and telecommunications infrastructure, with one module planned for high-density artificial intelligence workloads and high-performance computing using liquid cooling; once built, the campus will be carrier-neutral with four independent optical fibre entry points; commercial operations for Phase 1 are scheduled to begin in 2027.

How Do the Two Projects Differ?

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Data Center Valley is led by the Government and the national telecom operator, with a long-term goal of at least 1 GW, a 50 MW initial facility, and foreign partners including Firebird and NVIDIA. AKASHI is a commercial campus developed by a private enterprise, featuring 100 MW in planned capacity, an initial phase of about 10 MW, and $31.2 million in financing from the EDB. The two projects differ in scale by an order of magnitude, though both have targeted 2027 for commissioning their initial capacities.

How Are These Projects Related to Chinese Companies?

Public records contain one direct reference: on July 16, 2026, during Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit to Shanghai, Kazakhtelecom signed an agreement on the basic principles of cooperation for the Data Center Valley project with China's HV & Submarine Hengtong Group (Presidential Press Service, Kazakhstan Today, July 16, 2026). The report did not disclose the financial value or specific division of responsibilities under the agreement.

The Prime Minister's office and EDB materials cited in this article do not name any other Chinese enterprises participating in the construction or operation of Data Center Valley or the AKASHI campus.

What Should Be Verified Before Leasing Capacity or Supplying Infrastructure?

  1. Which specific project and phase the contract covers: the initial 50 MW facility of Data Center Valley, the 215 MW allocation, or subsequent phases whose timetables remain unscheduled.
  2. Whether the delivery timeline is specified by month or merely by planned quarter, and how delays are addressed.
  3. Which capacity definition is referenced in documentation: total data center IT load, substation capacity, or available electrical supply.
  4. How financing and investment arrangements are structured: whether commitments are backed by a signed investment contract, a memorandum of understanding, or a term sheet.
  5. Terms concerning end-users and intended applications for equipment and chips, including compliance with export control regulations.

FAQ

### Has Data Center Valley Already Begun Commercial Operations in Kazakhstan?
No. According to the Prime Minister's office press release of August 13, 2026, the initial 50 MW facility is scheduled to begin operations in June 2027; the project website lists the second quarter of 2027.

### What Will Be the Total Capacity of Data Center Valley Once Completed?
The long-term target is at least 1 GW. Plans announced on October 6, 2026 call for commissioning 186 MW in 2027, followed by another 109 MW in the second quarter of 2028.

### How Much Financing Has Been Secured for the AKASHI Campus?
On October 19, 2026, the Eurasian Development Bank announced $31.2 million in financing; total project investment is approximately $354 million (EDB press release).

### Is the Investment in Data Center Valley $10 Billion or $5 Billion?
Both figures originate from official sources: the June 15, 2026 release cited agreement packages totaling $10 billion, while on October 19, 2026, Kazinform cited ministry sources reporting projected total investment of about $5 billion. Public records do not reconcile the difference, and citations should identify the respective dates.

### Is this news related to China?
There is one direct link: in July 2026, Kazakhtelecom signed an agreement on the basic principles of cooperation for the Data Center Valley project with China's HV & Submarine Hengtong Group, with the amount undisclosed. The remaining public materials do not name other Chinese companies.

Related Reading

Sources

Illustration: AI-generated, not a real photograph.

Source
primeminister.kz/ru/news/olzhas-bektenov-reviews-progress-of-data-center-valley-project-in-pavlodar-region-31770
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