Microsoft Expands Data Centers Driving Resource Strain

Microsoft opened a Jakarta data centre as part of a $1.7 billion regional investment, AFP reported on Feb. 26, 2026. KPMG projects Southeast Asia data centre capacity will triple by 2030 amid a tenfold surge in AI use, but growth will widen reliance on coal-fired grids and strain water supplies; Microsoft plans renewables deals and closed-loop cooling to mitigate impacts.