Australia’s AirTrunk secured $2.33 B in green funding for biggest data center in Malaysia
In order to assist the construction of its JHB2 hyperscale data center campus in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Australia’s AirTrunk has obtained $2.325 billion in green project financing under its Green Financing Framework.
The funding is the biggest green project finance deal for a single data center in Malaysia and AirTrunk’s largest single-asset financing to date, according to a statement released on Thursday.
The JHB2 campus can use cutting-edge water-efficient cooling technology and attain a Power Usage Effectiveness of 1.37. The transaction’s margin savings will help fund AirTrunk’s social impact projects in Malaysia, such as STEM education programs with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, disaster relief through MERCY Malaysia, and recycled water programs in schools through Gravity Water and Water Watch Penang.
According to Pei Jet Lim, Vice President of AirTrunk and Country Head for Malaysia, the green financing shows how digital infrastructure can be constructed ethically. AirTrunk will keep making infrastructure investments, putting an emphasis on water and energy efficiency while providing advantages to nearby towns.
The deal demonstrates the robustness of AirTrunk’s sustainability credentials, according to Edmund Tan, Senior Director of Treasury Loans at AirTrunk. Additionally, the agreement helps the business reach net zero by 2030.
According to IFC Blue Finance Guidelines, the green loan also enhances water efficiency, according to Vikram Kumar, IFC’s Regional Industry Director for Infrastructure and Natural Resources in Asia Pacific. The agreement demonstrates how development funds may bolster Malaysia’s digital economy by supporting energy-efficient infrastructure.
AI and digital services are fueling an unprecedented demand for robust and sustainable digital infrastructure throughout Asia, according to Amit Sinha, Global Head of Telecommunications, Media, and Technology at DBS Bank’s Institutional Banking Group. The CEO continued, The deal helps position Malaysia as a leading hub for cloud and AI infrastructure in the region.
