Today's Edition
ROME (ALETIHAD)
In a significant leap for Europe’s digital infrastructure, Khazna Data Centers, a UAE-based hyperscale digital infrastructure leader, and Eni, the Italian global energy company, have signed a Head of Terms (HoT) agreement to establish a joint venture to develop a 500-megawatt AI data centre campus in Ferrera Erbognone, Lombardy, Italy.
The signing ceremony took place in Rome on Friday, in the presence of Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Adolfo Urso, Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, alongside other senior officials. The agreement was signed by Hassan Alnaqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers, and Guido Brusco, Eni’s Chief Operating Officer for Global Natural Resources.
This strategic initiative marks a major milestone in the UAE-Italy cooperation framework, which was reinforced during the state visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to Italy in February 2025. The visit laid the groundwork for a broader partnership in artificial intelligence, energy transition, and digital infrastructure.
The upcoming campus will feature state-of-the-art, energy-efficient infrastructure built specifically to support high-density AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. It will be powered by Eni’s proprietary “Blue Power”—a low-carbon energy source generated by a high-efficiency Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant equipped with carbon capture capabilities. This integration of decarbonised energy with AI data infrastructure is a first-of-its-kind in Italy, symbolising a new era in sustainable digital development.
The project is the first phase of a larger programme that aims to install up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of total IT capacity across Italy. Under the HoT, Khazna is appointed as the main partner to design and execute a phased master plan to deliver the 500MW data centre.
Hassan Alnaqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers, stated: “We’re proud to partner with Eni, a demonstrated energy leader, on this HoT, which represents a defining step in Khazna’s European expansion. Together with Eni, we are enabling the infrastructure needed for exponential AI growth—delivering the scale, sustainability, and operational precision that next-generation compute demands.”
Guido Brusco, COO Global Natural Resources of Eni, added: “Through this partnership, Eni and Khazna are jointly contributing to delivering a world-class hyperscale infrastructure, strategic for Italy and Europe, providing their distinctive capabilities in innovation, energy sustainability and rapid time-to-market.”
The agreement outlines the key principles, governance framework, and roles for a dedicated joint venture company that will oversee and fast-track the delivery of this strategic digital infrastructure.
