Morocco plans to construct a 500-megawatt state-owned data centre powered by renewable energy in Dakhla, Western Sahara, to enhance data storage security and support the country’s digital transformation, Digital Transition Minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni told Reuters. Details on the timeline and cost have not been disclosed.
This initiative aligns with a global trend of countries establishing sovereign data centres to ensure sensitive data is stored and processed domestically. Morocco launched its first sovereign data centre in January at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, providing cloud hosting services to local public and private sectors.
Seghrouchni emphasized that the network of data centres will reinforce Morocco’s digital sovereignty and its ambition to become a regional digital hub serving Africa.
As part of its digital modernisation strategy, Morocco plans to invest 11 billion dirhams ($1.22 billion) from 2024 to 2026, focusing on artificial intelligence development and expanded fibre optic infrastructure.
