New Data Centers Planned for Siberia and Russia’s Far East
The facilities are expected to consume significantly less electricity and attract foreign investment.
Russia is expanding its network of AI-focused data centers in Siberia and the Far East, where the colder climate makes operating such facilities far less expensive.
Computing infrastructure requires constant cooling, which typically consumes large amounts of energy. In northern regions, however, outside air can be used to maintain operating temperatures for equipment during eight to nine months of the year. As a result, operating data centers in Siberia and the Far East is expected to cost investors roughly half as much as in cities such as Shanghai.
In August 2025, the Russian government approved a plan to build eight new mega data centers by 2036, with part of the capacity to be located in eastern regions of the country. The initiative is intended not only to meet domestic demand but also to support the export of computing power.
