Africa’s Data Centers Set to Power the AI Revolution Amid Energy Challenges

Dec 23, 2025

Rising digital demand and artificial intelligence are driving rapid growth in data center capacity across Africa. Operators are balancing reliability, cost, and sustainability while expanding infrastructure in key markets.

Image: OVHcloud / AFP

In Africa, as across the world, rising digital connectivity is driving unprecedented demand for data center capacity, a trend expected to accelerate with the growth of artificial intelligence. Consulting firm McKinsey projects that data center capacity in Africa’s five largest markets; South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt will increase from around 400 megawatts today to between 1.5 and 2.2 gigawatts by 2030.

East Africa is emerging as a key growth area. Ethiopia and Kenya, which generate most of their electricity from renewable sources, offer a combination of green energy and digital infrastructure. Kenya is the site of Microsoft and UAE-based G42’s plan for a 100 megawatt, potentially 1 gigawatt, geothermal-powered data center campus. While feasibility questions remain, the region’s renewable resources provide a promising framework for both business and sustainability, according to Seema Dhanani, East Africa director at British International Investment.

Companies such as Raxio Group are at the forefront of meeting Africa’s data storage needs. The company operates facilities in Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, and Angola, with plans to expand to Tanzania. Securing reliable power is a top priority. Each data center is connected directly to substations with multiple power lines and supported by diesel generators to ensure 99.999 percent operational time. These measures are essential given the electricity-intensive nature of artificial intelligence workloads.