• AAAS Energy and ChillMine will build a green-powered data center campus in Botswana for AI and cloud services.
• The project will reduce hosting costs, enhance reliability, create jobs, and expand Botswana’s digital economy.
• Botswana has over six data centers and is experiencing fast growth, giving it an edge as it competes with South Africa’s larger market.

A new partnership between Netherlands-based energy developer AAAS Energy and U.S. data center provider ChillMine Corporation is set to bring a large-scale, green-powered data center campus to Botswana. Announced on September 30, the facility will cater to AI computing, global hyperscalers, and other energy-intensive clients, addressing the growing demand for reliable and cost-effective digital infrastructure in Southern Africa.

The campus will be a key component of a larger Energy Hub and Industrial Park. It will be powered by AAAS's 250MW solar project and a planned ~100MW/400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). Combined with nearby natural gas projects, the hub is designed to deliver the stable, low-cost, and sustainable power needed for high-performance data operations.

"This MOU with ChillMine is a significant step in our vision to connect sustainable energy development with the digital economy," said Maarten Mennes, Managing Director of AAAS. ChillMine CEO Brian Neirby added that the partnership will leverage "energy infrastructure under development and operational expertise" to create a best-in-class campus for global technology clients.

For Botswana, the project comes at a critical moment. While the country's internet penetration reached nearly 81.4% in early 2025, most of its hyperscale services are still hosted in South Africa due to limited local capacity. By bringing advanced infrastructure closer to home, the AAAS–ChillMine project promises to lower costs, improve service reliability, and attract foreign investment, while also creating technical jobs and supporting local skills development.

This venture also strengthens Botswana's position as an emerging hub for sustainable digital infrastructure. According to a July 2025 market briefing by Xalam Analytics, the country's digital transformation is fueled by government efforts to diversify the economy beyond mining. The report notes that Botswana already has more than six live data centers and is projected to see its market grow by 18% annually between 2024 and 2030, giving it a competitive edge.

The regional context highlights this opportunity. South Africa currently dominates the continent’s market with 40-50 live data centers. For Botswana, developing large-scale, green-powered facilities is a strategic move to reduce its reliance on its neighbor and attract new technology investment.

This collaboration builds on previous groundwork. AAAS Energy has already been developing its 250MW solar project at Botswana’s Leupane Energy Hub, while ChillMine has pursued similar solar-powered data center partnerships in Zimbabwe. This new venture is part of a broader strategy to link renewable energy with digital infrastructure across Southern Africa.

By anchoring the data center campus within an integrated energy hub, the AAAS–ChillMine partnership directly connects Botswana’s economic diversification goals with its digital future. The facility is expected not only to serve global cloud and AI clients but also to strengthen the foundations for a resilient and inclusive digital economy in Botswana.

Hikmatu Bilali