Kazakhstan, Nvidia and Firebird Announce $10B Plan for Northern “Data Center Valley”

Kazakhstan on Monday signed a $10 billion agreement with U.S. chipmaker Nvidia and Armenian-American cloud firm Firebird.ai to build a large-scale data center complex near Ekibastuz in the Pavlodar region, officials said. The government described the scheme as a cornerstone of its effort to pivot the economy toward digital services, with construction of the first phase slated to begin ahead of a planned 2027 opening.

Under the initial portion of the deal — half of the total package — developers will construct a roughly 125-megawatt facility, local authorities said. The second stage has yet to be detailed. Kazakhstan faces shortfalls in electricity generation nationwide, but officials argue the chosen site now has about three hundred megawatts available and will expand toward roughly one billion watts of capacity in coming years to power the complex and ancillary industry.

The agreement ties into a broader state program that lays out plans for a technology-driven economy through 2029. Government ministers described the project as an engine for exports, forecasting it could bring in about three billion dollars a year once fully operational and create a range of new technical and construction jobs. Firebird and Nvidia already collaborate on a major initiative in Armenia, where company statements say an initial stage is nearing completion — a sign, backers say, that the partners can move quickly from planning to operation.

Independent analysts welcomed the investment but urged caution. Ayzhan Beketova, an economist at the Almaty Policy Center, said the headline number is striking, but warned that realization will depend on grid upgrades, skilled labor and predictable regulation. “If the power and workforce pieces aren’t in place, the math for export revenue and jobs gets a lot harder,” she said. An energy consultant added that securing long-term electricity supplies at competitive prices will be vital to attract international cloud and AI customers.

Local leaders in Pavlodar framed the project as an opportunity to diversify an economy long tied to mining and heavy industry. “This could finally change the kinds of work available here,” said a regional official who attended the signing. But community groups have begun asking for details on land use, water consumption and environmental safeguards, signaling potential tensions as construction plans are finalized.

The deal also underscores Kazakhstan’s growing business ties with U.S. technology firms and regional tech ventures. Observers will be watching how contracts are negotiated, what financing and tax terms the government offers, and whether Phase Two expands the cluster beyond the initial campus. Officials say the next major milestones will be finalized technical plans and regulatory approvals ahead of ground-breaking next year.