Khazna & Eni’s Plans to Develop an AI Data Centre in Italy
Khazna Data Centers has signed a Head of Terms (HoT) with Eni, a global Italy-headquartered energy company, to establish a Joint Venture to develop an AI data centre campus.
As a global hyperscale leader, Khazna will be building the data centre with a total IT capacity of 500MW in Ferrera Erbognone, Lombardy. It seeks to combine its expertise in advanced data centre design and operations alongside Eni’s leadership in sustainable energy.
Both companies hope this will lay the foundation for a resilient AI ecosystem at the heart of Europe.
The news comes during a time where Khazna is committed to accelerating AI infrastructure development, particularly across the MEA region.
Just this week, the company signed a deal with the International Data Centre Authority (IDCA) to benchmark its data centre services. The company is making moves as it seeks to expand its global network of hyperscale data centres that are providing the digital infrastructure foundation for future economies.
Agreement to prioritise decarbonised energy
The HoT was signed in Rome in the presence of Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, alongside senior UAE officials and Adolfo Urso, Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy.
Khazna CEO Hassan Alnaqbi and Eni COO Global Natural Resources Guido Brusco signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.
Both companies say the data centre campus will be fed by “Blue Power” and supported by Eni. “Blue Power” refers to a low-carbon electricity source generated by a new high-efficiency Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Power Plant designed to capture CO2 emissions.
Khazna says this will provide a first-of-a-kind synergy between decarbonised energy and data centre design in Italy.
“We’re proud to partner with Eni, a demonstrated energy leader, on this HoT, which represents a defining step in Khazna’s European expansion,” says Hassan Alnaqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers.
“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.”
A sustainable mission to deliver AI and HPC workloads
This project is the first milestone of a programme that aims to install an overall IT capacity in Italy of up to 1GW.
This was set out in the Letter of Intent signed as part of the strategic partnership announced during the state visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, to Italy in February 2025.
The letter outlined a shared commitment between the UAE and Italy to collaborate across AI, energy transition and digital infrastructure.
Khazna says the HoT marks significant progress for the project, with Khazna appointed as main partner for Eni to design and develop a phased master plan to achieve the 500 MW IT capacity.
Purpose-built for high-density AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads, the Milan AI Data Center Campus is expected to deliver scalable, energy-efficient infrastructure designed to power Europe’s digital and AI-driven future.
Guido Brusco, COO Global Natural Resources of Eni, adds: “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 HoT sets the key principles, roles and governance structures of a dedicated Joint Venture Company between both parties (Eni and Khazna), which will accelerate delivery of this strategic project.
