Kazakhstan has declared 2026 the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, and data centers have become a key investment theme. A private project in Astana and a state-backed project in Pavlodar Region are advancing in parallel, offering Chinese companies operating in Kazakhstan fresh reference points in computing capacity, cloud services and AI.
Astana: Akashi Data Center
According to Kursiv Media, Akashi Data Center held a press tour of its construction site on September 24. Key parameters:
- Scale: four modules, up to 100 MW in total, up to 4,224 server racks, about 55,000 square meters on more than 11 hectares.
- Investment: about $354 million, of which roughly $230 million is planned as a loan from the Eurasian Development Bank.
- Timing: the first module is planned to launch in Q2 2027 with about 5 MW of IT load; the fourth module is intended for AI infrastructure (45–50 MW) with direct liquid chip cooling.
- Demand: management says Kazakhstan's market was about 4,000 racks in 2025 and the new campus would double it; its pipeline is around 10.3 MW, nearly twice the first module's capacity. About 34% of the first module is expected to go to Kazakh companies. China Mobile is named among the partners, and prospective clients include firms from China, Singapore, the US, Russia and other countries.
- Revenue: the company targets about $93 million a year in 2029.
These are the company's own plans and forecasts; actual progress should be checked against later disclosures.
Pavlodar Region: Data Center Valley
According to the Prime Minister's office on August 13, construction of the first 50 MW facility is in an active phase, with excavation for energy centers and AI factories 90% complete. Main buildings are to be erected by the end of 2026, commissioning is due by May 2027 and operation to start in June 2027. A 215 MW substation has been acquired, and phased scaling to up to 1 GW is envisaged. Partners include Firebird AI and NVIDIA. Qazinform, citing Akorda on October 1, reported a project of roughly 300 MW expandable to 1 GW, with NVIDIA planning to join the next stage. On October 3, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov described it at the forum as Central Asia's largest data center campus. Note the difference between the 50 MW first facility and the roughly 300 MW stated initial capacity of the overall project.
Rules related to this news
What it means for Chinese companies
The following is our own analysis. First, Kazakhstan treats data centers as an export-oriented digital industry, so cloud, telecom, CDN and AI computing firms may become customers or partners. Second, suppliers of power equipment, cooling and uninterruptible power systems can watch for project procurement. Third, before entering, companies should verify timelines, grid connection and commercial terms.
Sources:
- Kursiv Media, https://kz.kursiv.media/2026-09-24/zhnb-akashi-data-center-predstavil-budushhii-data-czentr-mirovogo-urovnya/
- Official site of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, https://primeminister.kz/en/news/olzhas-bektenov-reviews-progress-of-data-center-valley-project-in-pavlodar-region-31770
- Qazinform, https://qazinform.com/news/nvidia-to-join-next-phase-of-kazakhstans-data-center-valley-project-8113b8
- Kazakhstan Today, https://www.kt.kz/eng/government/more_than_60_new_agreements_reached_at_ai_digital_1378001225.html
Key facts
- Kazakhstan has designated 2026 as the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, and data centers have become an investment hotspot.
- The Akashi Data Center in Astana is planned to be built in 4 modules, with a total capacity of 100 MW and up to about 4,224 racks.
- The total investment in Akashi Data Center is about US$354 million, of which about US$230 million is planned to be borrowed from the Eurasian Development Bank.
- The first module of Akashi Data Center is planned to be launched in Q2 2027, with an IT load of about 5 MW.
- The first 50 MW facility of the “Data Center Valley” in Pavlodar Region is under construction and is scheduled to be put into operation in June 2027.
- The long-term power supply capacity of the “Data Center Valley” can be expanded in stages to 1 GW, and its partners include Firebird AI and NVIDIA.
FAQ
What is the scale of the Akashi Data Center in Astana?
According to Kursiv Media, the project is being built in 4 modules, with a planned total capacity of 100 MW, up to about 4,224 racks, a floor area of about 55,000 square meters, and a site area of more than 11 hectares.
When will the “Data Center Valley” in Pavlodar Region be commissioned?
The first 50 MW facility is under construction. The main building is planned to be completed by the end of 2026, commissioning is scheduled for May 2027 and operation for June 2027; the long-term power supply capacity can be expanded in stages to 1 GW.
What opportunities do these projects mean for Chinese companies?
Cloud service, communications, CDN, and AI computing power companies have the opportunity to become customers or supporting partners; equipment suppliers such as power, cooling, and uninterruptible power supply providers can pay attention to the projects’ procurement needs.
Is China Mobile participating in Kazakhstan’s data center projects?
According to Kursiv Media, China Mobile is listed as one of the partners of the Akashi Data Center in Astana, and the customer base also includes companies from China, Singapore, the United States, Russia, and other countries.
What should be noted when following these projects?
Much of the information about the Astana project consists of plans and forecasts stated by the companies themselves; different sources describe the “first-phase” capacity differently, and before entering, one should verify project progress, power connection, and customer terms.