Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, is planning to construct what could become the world’s largest data centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, according to a Bloomberg report. The facility is expected to have a total capacity of three gigawatts, a number far above current global standards. For comparison, the largest data centres in the world today, mostly located in the United States, have a capacity of less than one gigawatt.

Advanced AI chips to power the facility

Reliance Industries is buying advanced computer chips from Nvidia Corporation. These chips are very powerful and are needed to run complex artificial intelligence (AI) systems like ChatGPT and similar tools.

This decision comes at a time when big companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are building more and bigger data centres to meet the rising global demand for AI services. Recently, OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle announced a huge project called Stargate, where they plan to spend $500 billion to expand AI infrastructure.

If Mukesh Ambani’s Jamnagar data centre is successfully built, it would triple India’s current data centre capacity, which is currently less than one gigawatt. This would not only make India a leader in AI technology but also help the country compete in the rapidly growing global AI market.

Green energy and big investments

Building this three-gigawatt data centre is expected to cost between $20 billion and $30 billion, making it one of the most expensive tech projects in India. Reliance Industries has $26 billion in cash reserves, but experts think it might still be difficult to arrange enough funds for such a massive project. So far, the company hasn’t made any official statement about this plan.

The data centre in Jamnagar will mainly use renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and green hydrogen. Reliance is also planning new green energy projects nearby to support the facility. However, experts say it might not be easy to ensure a constant power supply for such a big operation. They believe the project might still need some fossil fuels or large battery systems to keep the data centre running smoothly.

Mukesh Ambani has made it clear that he wants to make artificial intelligence more affordable and accessible for everyone.

“We want to offer the lowest AI inferencing costs in the world, making AI affordable and available to all,” he said last year.

Jamnagar is already home to Reliance’s oil refining and petrochemical businesses. Now, the city is set to play a key role in the company’s push for AI and renewable energy, potentially making India a leader in advanced technology infrastructure.