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Municipal authorities in Cape Town, South Africa, have approved Equinix's proposal to develop two data centres in the King Air Industria area, despite objections from environmental and community groups. The approval advances one of the country's largest proposed data centre developments, with the facilities expected to require around 170 MW of power capacity. Activist organisations, including Housing Assembly and Foxglove, opposed the project over concerns relating to electricity consumption, water use and environmental impacts, arguing that greater disclosure was needed. Equinix said it has acquired the project site but has not yet submitted a detailed site development plan, adding that it will engage with stakeholders if the development proceeds.
Municipal authorities in Cape Town have approved Equinix's proposal to develop two data centres in the city's King Air Industria area, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for one of South Africa's largest planned digital infrastructure projects. The decision was taken despite objections raised by community and environmental advocacy groups regarding the project's anticipated resource requirements and environmental impact.
The proposed facilities are expected to require approximately 170 MW of power capacity, placing the development among the country's largest planned data centre projects. The growing scale of the sector reflects increasing demand for digital infrastructure across Africa as cloud computing, enterprise data storage and digital services continue to expand.
For comparison, Teraco, Africa's largest data centre operator, has stated that its campuses collectively provide around 189 MW of critical power capacity.
The project was challenged during tribunal proceedings by South Africa's Housing Assembly and UK-based technology advocacy organisation Foxglove, represented by the Legal Resources Centre. The groups argued that the planning application did not provide sufficient information regarding the development's environmental footprint, electricity requirements and water consumption.
Rosa Curling, Co-Executive Director of Foxglove, said the organisation was concerned that local communities had not been provided with adequate information about the potential environmental effects of the proposed data centres. She added that the groups were considering whether to appeal the tribunal's decision.
Equinix confirmed that it has acquired land for the proposed development in Cape Town but stated that it has not yet submitted a site development plan. Under South Africa's planning framework, a site development plan sets out the detailed design, layout and operational arrangements for an approved project before construction can commence.
A spokesperson for the company said that if Equinix decides to proceed with the development, it is committed to maintaining transparency and providing detailed information to relevant stakeholders during the planning process. The spokesperson added that the company engages with local utilities, government authorities and community stakeholders at an early stage of project planning to understand local priorities and incorporate those considerations into project decisions.
The approval represents an important milestone for Equinix as it seeks to expand its presence in Africa's growing digital infrastructure market. However, further planning approvals, including the submission and assessment of a site development plan, will be required before construction of the facilities can begin. Meanwhile, the activist groups have indicated that they are reviewing the tribunal's decision and considering the available legal options.
Source - Reuters
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