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AI data centres could make electricity more expensive

Power-hungry hyperscale data centres could lock us into fossil fuel dependence, says Open Secrets

Land near Cape Town Airport where two huge data centres are planned. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks
South Africa’s energy problems will be exacerbated by the introduction of new power-hungry data centres. Given the planned expansion, data centres need regulation to protect human rights.
Access to reliable, clean, and affordable energy remains a persistent problem in South Africa. It is a problem that affects access to food and water, a healthy environment, housing, dignity and equality – rights enshrined in the Constitution. Yet, the rapid expansion of power-hungry data centres is progressing while energy poverty remains unresolved.
While South Africa already has many standard data centres, hyper-scale data centres are new to our digital infrastructure landscape and are on an entirely…

Read More: AI data centres could make electricity more expensive.

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  2. Fun South African Fact: Despite the country’s status as a democratic republic, the Province of KwaZulu-Natal has a monarchy, specially provided for by the Constitution. Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu is the King of the Zulu Nation, has 27 kids and 6 wives and lives, literally, like a King!