Morocco Plans to Establish a 500 Megawatt Data Centre Fueled by Renewable Energy
In a significant move towards digital modernization, Morocco has announced plans to build a 500-megawatt data centre in Dakhla, Western Sahara. This project forms part of the country's broader strategy to establish itself as a key digital infrastructure hub for Africa and assert its digital sovereignty.
The initiative aligns with Morocco's "Digital Morocco 2030" roadmap, which aims to enhance digital autonomy and position the nation as a regional digital hub. The data centre, powered entirely by renewable energy, will be a cornerstone of Morocco's green tech ambitions in the region.
Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Morocco's digital transition minister, has stated that the network of data centres will assert Morocco's digital sovereignty and ambition to become a regional digital hub serving Africa. The upcoming data centre in Dakhla builds on the successful launch of Morocco's first sovereign data centre at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University earlier in 2025.
The data centre will offer cloud hosting to local entities and is expected to be a significant boost to the region's digital infrastructure. The project also includes the expansion of nationwide fibre optic networks, further enhancing Morocco's digital connectivity.
Details on the construction timeline and cost for the Dakhla project have yet to be disclosed. However, a total investment of 11 billion dirhams ($1.22 billion) has been earmarked for Morocco's digital modernization between 2024 and 2026.
Governments worldwide are prioritizing national data centres to maintain legal jurisdiction over sensitive digital assets, and Morocco aims to join this trend. The country's ambition to become a digital infrastructure hub for Africa is a testament to its commitment to digital modernization and sustainable development.
[1] Morocco World News. (2025). Morocco's Digital Transition Minister: Morocco Aims to Become a Digital Hub in Africa. [online] Available at: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2025/01/305426/moroccos-digital-transition-minister-morocco-aims-to-become-a-digital-hub-in-africa/
[2] North Africa Post. (2025). Morocco to Launch Green Data Centre in Dakhla. [online] Available at: https://northafricapost.com/2025/02/01/morocco-to-launch-green-data-centre-in-dakhla/
[3] Morocco Times. (2025). Morocco to Build 500-Megawatt Data Centre in Dakhla. [online] Available at: https://moroccotimes.com/2025/02/02/morocco-to-build-500-megawatt-data-centre-in-dakhla/
[4] Morocco World News. (2023). Morocco Launches First Sovereign Data Centre at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. [online] Available at: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/04/329009/morocco-launches-first-sovereign-data-centre-at-mohammed-vi-polytechnic-university/
- The data centre in Dakhla, a cornerstone of Morocco's green tech ambitions, will be powered entirely by renewable energy, demonstrating the tech industry's role in environmental-science.
- The investment of 11 billion dirhams ($1.22 billion) allocated for Morocco's digital modernization between 2024 and 2026 will further strengthen its renewable-energy infrastructure, adding to the finance sector's importance.
- As Morocco seeks to become a regional digital hub, it is prioritizing data-and-cloud-computing, positioning itself within the digital landscape of the technology industry.
- The upcoming data centre in Dakhla, a significant boost to the region's digital infrastructure, will offer cloud hosting to local entities, potentially creating new business opportunities within the industry.
