The Cape Town Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) approved an application to change the zoning for the construction of a large data center with a capacity of 174 MVA on the King Air Industria site, despite strong opposition from Housing Assembly and Foxglove.
Housing Assembly and Foxglove stated that 'people cannot eat or drink data, or the network and connection.' This project is the second data center planned by Equinix. The applicants submitted a request to change the zoning from 'Mixed Use' to 'General Industrial' for this facility, which is part of plans to create a 174 MVA facility at King Air Industria (KAI), an industrial zone located on land owned by the King David Golf Club.
Opponents argue that the publicly available application lacks sufficient information regarding water consumption, electricity demand, emissions, diesel generators and fuel storage, air pollution, cooling systems, as well as the design and scale of the proposed buildings. They emphasized that critical information remains unavailable.
Lisa van Aarde, representing Equinix before the MPT, noted that the proposed digital infrastructure will allow Cape Town's digital industry to thrive. She also assured that the KAI developer and Equinix are 'fully committed to ensuring that development in KAI strictly complies with the provisions of applicable environmental and planning legislation.'
Van Aarde added that to assume otherwise, as the objectors did, is 'extremely unfair and does not contribute to providing a transparent and procedurally fair development environment.' She stated that the level of detail in the current application is considered sufficient for a decision, and all technical aspects will be included in the future Site Development Plan (SDP). If additional information is required according to the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), Municipal Planning By-law (MPBL), or National Building Regulations, it will be prepared and submitted to the relevant authority.
Kimal Harvey from the Legal Resource Centre (LRC), speaking on behalf of the opponents, pointed out that uncertainty in municipal bylaws prevents the MPT from making informed decisions. He noted that the criteria for zoning changes and amendments to rights for a micro data center differ significantly from those for a hyperscale center.
Opponents insisted that the applicants have not provided substantial information necessary for the MPT to assess the 'desirability, socio-economic, and environmental impact of this development on the public and surrounding communities.' LRC recommended rejecting the application and requiring the applicants to submit a new application with more detailed information about the potential impact of such a center on local communities.
Harvey also warned that data centers of this size require enormous amounts of electricity, and cooling systems depend on a stable water supply. Without data on the cooling system, water source, and expected consumption, communities cannot assess whether the project will put additional pressure on Cape Town's water and electricity infrastructure. He urged the Tribunal not to become a 'rubber stamp' for applications that conceal the true nature of the project and ignore the constitutional rights of residents.
Omnia WN Holding, Casa dos Ventos, and the State Environmental Superintendence of Ceará (Semace) were granted a 30-day deadline to provide responses to the recommendation jointly issued by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) and the Public Defender's Office of the Union (DPU).
The mentioned entities are involved in the construction process of the TikTok data center, and the recommendation aims to address the environmental implications of this project.
