Tech

Cybastion Plans $75 Million AI Data Centre and Power Plant in Douala.

Dr Bless Phanuel

Cybastion Plans $75 Million AI Data Centre and Power Plant in Douala.

US technology company Cybastion is planning to invest $75 million in an artificial intelligence focused data centre and dedicated power plant in Douala, in a move that could strengthen Cameroon’s digital infrastructure and expand the country’s capacity to support cloud computing, data storage and emerging AI applications.

The project was announced during the inaugural Cameroon US Economic and Commercial Dialogue held in Yaoundé on August 27, 2026. Cybastion says the proposed infrastructure would combine a sovereign data centre with dedicated power capacity, allowing computing and other digital services to be provided locally.

A major technology proposal for Douala.

Cybastion’s planned facility would be designed to support growing demand for computing capacity, digital services and artificial intelligence in Cameroon. The company describes the proposed development as a sovereign data centre, reflecting the increasing importance of keeping data processing and digital infrastructure closer to the users and institutions that generate the information.

The decision to include dedicated electricity generation is particularly significant. Data centres operate continuously and require stable power for servers, cooling systems, networking equipment and security infrastructure. AI applications can place additional demands on computing and electricity infrastructure, making reliable power a central consideration for any large-scale facility.

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However, several important details have not yet been disclosed. Cybastion has not announced the proposed computing capacity, the size or technology of the power plant, the exact location within Douala, the construction timetable or the financing structure for the $75 million project.

The $75 million is an investment plan, not completed funding.

The distinction between a planned investment and a secured investment is important.

Cybastion has publicly announced its intention to invest $75 million, and the project has been identified as one of the investment opportunities emerging from the Cameroon US economic dialogue. However, available reporting indicates that the project remains at the investment proposal stage.

Cameroon’s Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development has indicated that the various projects presented during the dialogue are at different stages of development. The broader announcement of approximately $7 billion in US investment and trade opportunities therefore represents a pipeline of opportunities and investment intentions rather than $7 billion already transferred into Cameroon.

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For the Cybastion project, the next major milestones will include confirmation of financing, the final site, technical specifications, construction plans and agreements with the relevant Cameroonian authorities.

Why the power plant matters.

The proposed combination of a data centre and dedicated power generation addresses one of the fundamental challenges facing digital infrastructure in Africa.

As demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital services increases, data centres need electricity supplies that are both reliable and economically viable. Interruptions can affect computing operations, while high energy costs can significantly increase the cost of running facilities.

Cybastion’s proposal therefore goes beyond simply building a server facility. By planning dedicated power capacity alongside the data centre, the company is attempting to address two infrastructure requirements at the same time: computing and energy.

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The technology and scale of the proposed power plant, however, remain unknown, meaning its potential contribution to Cameroon’s wider electricity system cannot yet be assessed.

Cameroon already has data centre infrastructure.

Cybastion would not be entering an entirely undeveloped market.

Cameroon already has established data centre infrastructure, including a Tier III certified facility operated by CAMTEL in Zamengoé near Yaoundé. In Douala, ST Digital also operates a private data centre with infrastructure dedicated to artificial intelligence applications.

The Cybastion project would therefore need to compete and differentiate itself through factors such as computing capacity, reliability, pricing, cybersecurity, connectivity and the range of services available to businesses and institutions.

If developed at significant scale, however, the proposed facility could increase the country’s overall computing capacity and provide additional infrastructure for organisations seeking locally hosted services.

Digital sovereignty is becoming a strategic issue.

The project also comes at a time when governments across Africa are paying greater attention to digital sovereignty.

As financial transactions, government services, healthcare records and corporate operations increasingly move online, countries are becoming more concerned about where sensitive information is stored and processed.

A sovereign data centre can potentially give governments and businesses greater control over local data infrastructure while reducing dependence on facilities located outside the country.

For Cameroon, the development could eventually support sectors such as banking, telecommunications, government services, healthcare, education, research and technology startups that require secure and reliable computing infrastructure.

The AI component could become particularly important as companies and public institutions begin deploying artificial intelligence tools in areas ranging from customer services and financial technology to agriculture, healthcare and public administration.

Cybastion already has an African infrastructure track record.

The Douala proposal is also part of Cybastion’s wider involvement in African digital infrastructure.

In Côte d’Ivoire, the US Export Import Bank approved a $66.14 million guarantee in 2025 to support construction of a national data centre involving Cybastion. In May 2026, the transaction was recognised by US EXIM as its Industries of the Future Deal of the Year.

That experience could be relevant as Cybastion works to move the Cameroon proposal from an investment announcement toward implementation.

There is, however, no comparable financing arrangement publicly confirmed for the Douala project at this stage. The Cameroon project should therefore not be presented as already financed or under construction.

A test for Cameroon’s digital ambitions.

The proposed $75 million facility comes as Cameroon seeks to strengthen its digital economy and attract greater technology investment.

Douala, as the country’s economic capital and a major commercial centre, provides a natural location for infrastructure intended to serve businesses and digital service providers. Greater computing capacity could also make Cameroon more attractive to companies looking for a Central African base.

But turning the proposal into an operational facility will require more than an investment announcement. Financing, regulatory approvals, land, power infrastructure, connectivity, skilled personnel and a clear customer base will all influence whether the project reaches construction and eventually commercial operation.

For now, Cybastion’s announcement represents a significant planned technology investment rather than a completed project.

If the company secures financing and proceeds with construction, the Douala data centre could become an important addition to Cameroon’s digital infrastructure, providing greater local computing capacity while supporting the country’s ambitions in artificial intelligence, cloud services and digital sovereignty.

The next stage will therefore be closely watched. The confirmation of the project’s financing, technical specifications, location and construction timetable will determine whether the $75 million proposal becomes one of Cameroon’s most significant private investments in AI infrastructure.

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