The American company announced a historic investment for 2027 and 2028, aimed at expanding its artificial intelligence infrastructure. The projects would contribute USD 1.1 billion annually to Malaysia's GDP during their construction and sustain over 37,000 jobs per year
The growth of data centers represents a considerable energy challenge: official projections indicate that they could account for 31% of Malaysia's electricity consumption by 2035, compared to the 7% estimated for 2026.
An investment of USD 160 million to ensure water supply
The project also includes infrastructure aimed at addressing the cooling needs of the servers.
On November 2, Google announced USD 160 million to build a reservoir off the river Linggi and a water treatment plant in Negeri Sembilan.
Google announced an investment of USD 15 billion in Malaysia during 2027 and 2028, aimed at building data centers, expanding clean energy generation, strengthening water supply, and training workers. The initiative was presented this Wednesday, November 4, in Kuala Lumpur, during an event led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The new commitment expands on the USD 2 billion announced in 2024 to develop digital infrastructure. The upcoming complexes will be located in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, and will complement the center already operating in Elmina Business Park.
A multimillion-dollar investment to boost Malaysia's economy
Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, explained that the project aims to expand the processing capacity needed to develop artificial intelligence and digital services.
According to the company's estimates, the construction will contribute approximately USD 1.1 billion annually to Malaysia's gross domestic product and sustain more than 37,000 jobs per year, including direct and indirect positions.
Once operational, the data centers would contribute to maintaining more than 9,000 annual jobs, with average salaries 45% higher than the national median salary.
The company will also work with more than 80 Malaysian suppliers linked to construction, IT infrastructure, logistics, and specialized services.
Google will finance its electricity without relying on public subsidies
One of the highlights of the announcement is Google's commitment to pay 100% of the electricity consumed by its facilities, in addition to the direct costs necessary to connect them to the grid.
The company also plans to incorporate more than one gigawatt of clean energy through agreements with Tenaga Nasional, the country's main electricity company.
During the presentation, Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that Google will finance its energy needs without public subsidies.
The Prime Minister stated that a responsible investment must strengthen the country that receives it and improve its capacity to face future challenges.
The works will be carried out by Gamuda and will allow for the production of 65 million liters of drinking water daily, both for the future data center and for the local population.
The system is also designed to store water during periods of heavy rainfall and reduce the risks of flooding during monsoons.
Once the facilities are completed, ownership will be transferred to the state government.
Google will train 800,000 workers in artificial intelligence
In addition to the infrastructure, Google announced four programs aimed at training approximately 800,000 Malaysians between 2027 and 2031.
The initiatives will target students, teachers, small business owners, public employees, and individuals interested in working in data centers.
One of the projects, called Data Center Institutes, will start in 2027 and will offer technical training to install, operate, and maintain these facilities.
The training will include practical experience with simulators and programs aimed at facilitating job placement.
