AI data centre seeks to position Mombasa and Kenya as a significant regional AI and digital-infrastructure hub. [Courtesy]
European firm Amaco Energy Group has mooted plans to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered smart-power system valued at $1.5 billion (Sh194 billion) to energise data centres that will be run using Artificial Intelligence (AI), once approved.
Group Chief Executive Officer Theodore Theodoropoulos said the offshore smart-power system dubbed Hercules will be integrated with data centres as a single unit and will be the first in Africa.
It combines electricity generation, upstream cooling and AI data-centre infrastructure within an integrated architecture.
“The fundamental concept is to reduce dependence on conventional national-grid infrastructure by generating electricity close to where it is consumed,” said Theodoropoulos during an interview in Nairobi.
“It will be built inside the Port of Mombasa and is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted power supply to integrated data centres since it will be completely independent, not relying on the national grid.
He said the development of an AI data centre facility in the Mombasa Port ecosystem will help position Mombasa and Kenya as a significant regional AI and digital-infrastructure hub.