NVIDIA Confirms Major AI Compute Investments in Morocco, Including 500MW Casablanca Factory

NVIDIA has officially confirmed Morocco's central role in two significant African AI infrastructure projects. The first is the Nexus AI Factory, to be located near Casablanca, with an initial budget of $1.2 billion and a target capacity of 500 megawatts. This facility will utilize Blackwell processors and be powered by renewable energy from TAQA Morocco, aligning with Morocco's national strategies for digital investment and green energy.

The second initiative involves Cassava Technologies, NVIDIA's primary African cloud partner. Following an initial deployment in South Africa, Cassava plans to expand AI compute capacity to Morocco, alongside Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria. NVIDIA estimates the total African program at $720 million, though specific details for the Moroccan site's allocation and timeline are yet to be disclosed.

Morocco's ability to provide substantial renewable energy is a key factor attracting these investments, addressing a critical constraint that has hindered similar large-scale AI projects in other African nations. The article highlights that projects like Kenya's Microsoft/G42 facility faced power supply challenges, underscoring Morocco's strategic advantage. These investments are crucial for Morocco's "AI Made in Morocco" initiative, which aims for a 100 billion dirham GDP contribution and 50,000 AI jobs by 2030. Unanswered questions remain regarding specific site locations, rollout timelines, governance, and crucially, how local researchers and businesses will access this compute capacity to ensure it truly serves African sovereign AI ambitions.