DataVolt Secures $150M Non-Recourse Project Financing for AI-Ready Green Data Center in Uzbekistan

Why It Matters

The financing accelerates Uzbekistan’s push to become a regional digital hub, providing essential infrastructure for AI services and fostering a skilled workforce that can drive long‑term economic diversification.

Key Takeaways

• DataVolt secures up to $150 million non‑recourse financing for TAS‑1.
• TAS‑1 will be a 12‑MW AI‑ready green data center in Tashkent.
• Funding comes from DEG, EBRD, OPEC Fund and Proparco.
• Project supports Uzbekistan’s Digital Uzbekistan‑2030 goal of $1.5 bn AI market.
• DataVolt launches two‑year diploma program to train local data‑center talent.

Pulse Analysis

The $150 million non‑recourse loan marks a rare instance of coordinated development finance targeting digital infrastructure in Central Asia. By pooling resources from DEG, EBRD, the OPEC Fund and Proparco, the consortium mitigates risk for private investors while ensuring the project adheres to stringent environmental and social standards. This financing model showcases how multilateral institutions can catalyze large‑scale, green data center projects that might otherwise struggle to secure commercial debt in emerging markets.

Uzbekistan’s Digital Uzbekistan‑2030 strategy envisions a $1.5 bn AI ecosystem by the end of the decade, and TAS‑1 is a cornerstone of that ambition. The 12‑MW facility, designed for AI workloads, will provide low‑latency, high‑capacity compute power to sectors ranging from agriculture to manufacturing. By localizing data processing, the center reduces reliance on overseas cloud services, improves data sovereignty, and lowers transaction costs for regional businesses seeking to adopt advanced analytics and machine learning.

Beyond bricks‑and‑mortar, DataVolt’s partnership with Shirin College to launch a two‑year diploma program addresses the talent gap that often hampers digital transformation. Training a pipeline of data‑center engineers and AI specialists ensures the infrastructure is matched by human capital, fostering sustainable growth. As neighboring economies watch Uzbekistan’s progress, TAS‑1 could set a benchmark for green, AI‑ready data centers across the region, attracting further private investment and reinforcing the country’s emerging role as a Central Asian tech hub.

Deal Summary

DataVolt, a global data-center developer, has secured up to $150 million in non-recourse project financing from a consortium of development finance institutions—DEG, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), OPEC Fund for International Development, and Proparco—to build the 12‑MW TAS‑1 green data center in Tashkent, slated to be operational by late 2026. The financing supports Uzbekistan’s Digital Uzbekistan‑2030 Strategy, providing AI‑ready infrastructure while promoting renewable energy and local talent development.