Kala Data Centre, a high-density computational facility being built in a partnership between Tlou Energy and UAE-based technology company Kala Data, is on track to commence operations by September.
The facility is powered by electricity generated from Tlou’s coalbed methane gas reserves, offering a secure and cost-effective solution for Kala Data's energy-intensive computing operations.
The facility is designed to host up to six modular 1MW data containers, with one unit planned for installation in the first development phase. Kala has completed payment for the first data container, and assembly is underway. Delivery to the site is anticipated in mid-August, with commissioning and operational start-up scheduled thereafter.
Kala will have an exclusive right to develop, operate, and expand high-density computational activities for an initial five-year period, with an option to integrate solar infrastructure to supplement the facility's gas-based power supply.
Kala will also procure and install a gas-fired generator designed to support the data container, with delivery also expected in August.
"The collaboration with Kala is expected to provide a pathway to near-term revenue while contributing to energy security and digital infrastructure growth in Botswana," Tlou Energy said.
The data centre will be optimised to handle demanding computing tasks, often involving intensive data processing, simulations, or running complex algorithms. This requires high-performance hardware with high-end processors used for tasks such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and large-scale scientific simulations.
It will generate revenue in several ways, primarily by leveraging its computational power to provide services to businesses, researchers, and other entities that require significant computational resources. This includes cryptocurrency and blockchain services, cloud computing services, data centre leasing, R&D services, AI and machine learning, simulation and computational modelling.