Astana, June 18, 2026, 13:26 (UTC+5)
- Kazakhstan is tying a $10 billion AI data-centre project to its broader state infrastructure push.
- The first phase plans for a 125-megawatt project in Ekibastuz, aiming to start commercial operations in 2027.
- Power supply, funding, access to chips and execution are still the main challenges.
Kazakhstan is moving to turn its energy sector into an AI export play, tying a $10 billion data-center project with Firebird and Nvidia backing to a new state fund aimed at finishing 16 infrastructure projects this year.
Timing is a big factor here. Astana just rolled out its Digital Qazaqstan strategy, looking through 2029. Data, AI, and computing capacity take center stage in the plan, covering public services, local industry, and tech exports. Officials are pitching a sovereign AI hub as the standout project, anchored by a “Data Center Valley.” The site could eventually host data centers with up to 1 gigawatt of power, the government said. Government of Kazakhstan
Samruk-Kazyna said Wednesday it plans to finish 16 projects totaling 3.3 trillion tenge in 2026. The list includes new rail lines, the Almaty CHP-2 revamp, a gas plant at Kashagan, a hybrid power facility, and a fibre-optic cable running along the Caspian Sea bed. Chairman Nurlan Zhakupov told reporters an Nvidia B300-based supercomputing cluster is set to go live in Kosshy in October, which will boost Kazakhtelecom’s supercomputer capacity by four times.
Kazakhstan’s AI package came out June 15, right after Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov sat down with Nvidia Vice President Rev Lebaredian and Firebird’s Razmig Hovaghimian and Alexander Yesayan. According to the documents, the country’s AI ministry and Firebird signed a strategic cooperation deal. Kazakhtelecom signed a binding term sheet with Firebird for the Data Center Valley project.
Bloomberg said the deals could draw up to $10 billion in investment. Phase one is set at $5 billion, with $1 billion from Kazakhtelecom, the state company. Commercial operations at a 125-megawatt site are expected next year. A megawatt measures power for large sites like data centers. The next $5 billion phase hasn’t been scheduled.
Kazakhstan is pitching Ekibastuz, the northeast coal and power center, as the starting point for the project. Bektenov said the country aims to create a base for “hosting global digital infrastructure.” The government said there is already 300 MW of capacity available at the site, with plans to build out to 1 GW in phases. qazinform.com
Lebaredian put it bluntly: “Everything begins with energy,” the Nvidia executive said. He argued Kazakhstan can get into the AI value chain if it converts power, land, and tech talent into compute. Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
Deputy Prime Minister Zhaslan Madiyev said the new investment plan is aimed at backing a cluster with 100,000 GPUs, the chips behind AI model training and operation. He expects the project to add a minimum of $3 billion in yearly export revenue, bring in skilled jobs and attract international tech firms.
Kazakhtelecom’s Bagdat Mussin said the project aims to turn Ekibastuz coal into digital services paid for in foreign currency. Firebird has service agreements with major global customers, Mussin said, but the government statement did not disclose any names.
Kazakhstan wants to catch up to Firebird and Nvidia, which are building an AI project in Armenia. Firebird said in early June construction and equipment delivery were almost done on the first phase there. Now Kazakhstan is aiming to do more, and move faster.
The deal still has steps ahead before it’s metal, chips and contracts. Eurasianet, via Oilprice.com, pointed out Kazakhstan runs a nationwide power deficit, although officials say Ekibastuz can handle the early stage. The second phase isn’t set yet. Financing, chip supply and long-term power are all seen as open risks.
