At ITW & Datacloud Africa’s Energy Workshop, industry leaders agreed that Africa cannot simply copy Western approaches to powering and building data centers. With demand for cloud and AI workloads rising, the challenge of securing reliable, affordable, and green energy has become central to the continent’s digital future.
The session, moderated by Dan Kwach, Regional Executive for East Africa at Africa Data Centres, featured Lars Johannisson, CEO of Rack Centre; Sandile Dube, Managing Director for South Africa at Equinix; and Susan Mbatia, Director of Corporate Development at Icolo.
Johannisson argued that energy is the defining constraint. While cross-border energy sharing could help, tariffs and policy hurdles make it difficult. “Green is the biggest offset and better than diesel generators,” he said, noting gas as a clean, round-the-clock alternative. But he cautioned that Africa must pursue self-reliance.
Dube stressed that data centers should be viewed as engines of broader economic impact. “Data centers consume power but also generate power. That energy can support surrounding communities,” he said. With unemployment above 60 percent in parts of South Africa, he called for policies that create stability and attract investment. “Africa is not one country but 54 sovereign states. Focus on those where these models can be deployed effectively,” he added.
Mbatia described Kenya’s advantage in renewable energy. “Ninety percent of our power comes from renewables – hydro, wind, and geothermal. We’ve signed a deal with Microsoft to build a 1GW AI site, and Kenya can generate even more to power future workloads,” she said.
Guy Zibi of Xalam Analytics, contributing from the floor, warned that meaningful connectivity is still lacking. With fewer than half of Africans on 4G, demand for cloud and data centers will remain capped until broadband adoption accelerates. Participants called Kenya the “Nordics of Africa,” and urged policymakers to explore how surplus capacity could be exported to neighbors.
The workshop highlighted the need for Africa to develop energy and infrastructure strategies tailored to its own realities. Success will depend not on importing models from the U.S., but on harnessing local resources, renewable potential, and policies that enable investment and scale.
Ready to dive deeper into the hyperscale revolution impacting Africa?
READ MORE HERE: www.africa.hyperscalers.news
Contact Us:
Email: projects@hyperscalers.news
Phone: +2348109003350
Follow us on Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, x
