Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 18, Australia’s remote Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island has sufficient electricity to support the new Google data centre without affecting power available to residents, according to statements from both Google and the island’s largest employer. Alphabet’s Google announced on Monday that it will establish a data hub on Christmas Island, located about 350 km (220 miles) south of Indonesia, confirming earlier information.

The Google logo is seen outside the company's offices in London, Britain, June 24, 2025.

The company said it will also build a subsea cable system connecting Christmas Island with the Maldives and Oman. Google stated that two additional data hubs will be part of the plan to “deepen the resilience of internet infrastructure in the Indian Ocean Region.” The combined projects aim to strengthen regional connectivity and provide support for data-intensive operations.

The announcement had prompted questions about whether the island’s power supply could support local households, the phosphate mine, and the planned data centre. Nicholas Gan, chief executive of Phosphate Resources, the company that employs about half of the island’s population of 1,600, said power availability is sufficient. The phosphate mine imports diesel to run a generator that supplies energy for the mine and for the Australian defence facilities on the island.

Gan said: “The power grid can supply both Google’s requirements and our requirements comfortably.” He noted, however, that capacity would be pressured if the island’s detention centre or a closed resort were to reopen. He added that Google’s arrival strengthens the case for shifting toward renewable energy, which would reduce dependence on imported diesel and lower long-term costs.

Australia’s infrastructure department is holding discussions with Google to ensure that the company’s energy needs can be met without affecting supply to residents or businesses on the island.

Google said the new facility on Christmas Island will be smaller than some of its other data centres and will share digital infrastructure with local users. The company stated: “The power required for a connectivity hub can still be a lot for some smaller locations, and where it is, Google is exploring using its power demand to accelerate local investment in sustainable energy generation.” This approach aligns with efforts to enhance energy efficiency in remote regions.

Christmas Island has experienced periods of rapid expansion followed by downturns, and the community has long sought stable sources of economic activity. Gan, who is a member of the island’s economic future working group, said the Google project will generate new economic momentum at a time when the island is approaching “the last era for mining.”

Historical projects on Christmas Island have included a planned commercial spaceport proposed by Australia and Russia about 23 years ago, which did not proceed. Records also note that a casino opened in 1993 and closed five years later during an economic downturn in Asia. Additionally, a detention centre for asylum seekers operated for nearly two decades before being largely closed in 2023 due to changes in national policy.

The Google initiative represents a new phase of development for the island, combining technology infrastructure with long-term planning for energy and economic diversification.