Nexus Core Systems hired FiveNines Group, a data-centre design and delivery firm, to lead early design, feasibility and permit work on a 20 MW artificial intelligence (AI) data centre near Casablanca, in a deal announced on 8 October1. The site is the first of a planned 180 MW programme in Morocco. The appointment covers the stage before construction, so the project still has its permits and grid connection to win. Power has stalled AI campuses elsewhere in Africa: Kenya suspended the Microsoft-G42 geothermal campus at Olkaria in May over its power demand.
18OCT
FiveNines hired for Casablanca AI site
2 min read
13:11UTC
Nexus Core Systems appointed FiveNines Group on 8 October to lead early design, feasibility and permit work on a 20 MW AI data centre near Casablanca.
IndustryDeveloping
Key takeaway
Nexus Core Systems hired FiveNines Group for a 20 MW AI data centre near Casablanca.
Deep Analysis
In plain English
Nexus Core Systems wants to build data centres in Morocco, starting with one near Casablanca, the country's largest city. Data centres are buildings full of computers, and this one is meant for artificial intelligence work. It has hired FiveNines Group, a specialist firm, to do the early design, check whether the site works and handle permits. This first site would use 20 megawatts of power, part of a bigger plan for 180 megawatts.
What could happen next?
- Opportunity
A first site near Casablanca would test Morocco's pitch as a computing bridge between Europe and Africa.
- Risk
Water and firm power supply may limit how much of the 180 MW programme is built.
Sources:Morocco World News
First Reported In
Update #16 · Malaysia bills data centres for idle grid
Morocco World News· 18 Oct 2026
Read original →Different Perspectives
Nexus Core Systems
Hired FiveNines Group, in a deal announced on 8 October, for early design, feasibility and permit work on a 20 MW AI data centre near Casablanca. It is the first named site of a planned 180 MW programme, still at concept design.
MC Digital Realty
Began building the 24 MW KIX15 data centre in Osaka Prefecture on 7 October, due to open in the fourth quarter of 2028. The joint venture of Digital Realty and Mitsubishi Corporation says it will then run 10 data centres in Japan with about 220 MW of IT capacity.
KT Cloud
Said on 7 October that it and Hyundai Engineering will build a 50 MW AI data centre at Cheongna, Incheon, from the fourth quarter of 2026. Completion is due in the first quarter of 2030, part of KT Cloud's target of more than 1 GW of AI capacity by 2031.
Town of Trebbin
Said on 7 October that work has begun on two data-centre buildings and a substation under building permits already granted. The operating permit under the Federal Immission Control Act is still with Brandenburg's environment agency, so the town postponed its public presentation.
Óscar López, Digital Transformation minister
Said in Madrid on 8 October that he hopes to approve the data-centre royal decree shortly, with urgent processing to reach the cabinet before the 29 November election. He said the final text will take the more than 600 submissions into account, without saying what changes.
Hydro-Québec
Defended its proposed Tarif CD before the Régie de l'énergie du Québec from 1 to 9 October, a rate for data centres of 5 MW or more that adds a premium when peak demand stays below 60% of forecast. Industrial consumers filed their own wording for the clause on who the rate covers.
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Editorial standards.