Keystone CEO Navot Bar Emphasizes Infrastructure Resilience Amid Volatility
Keystone CEO Navot Bar discussed infrastructure resilience, data center expansion, and power demand at the Calcalist Tech1 conference amid market volatility.
Speaking at the Calcalist and Live Nation Tech1 conference, Keystone CEO Navot Bar discussed the challenges facing the Israeli economy and infrastructure sector amid current market volatility. He emphasized that despite economic uncertainty, essential infrastructure assets remain resilient.
Energy Demand and Data Centers
Addressing the surging demand for power driven by the artificial intelligence boom, Bar noted that Keystone is strategically positioned in the electricity supply chain. The company leverages its partnerships, including with IPM, to develop data centers and secure energy resources. Bar stressed that Israel must expand its data center capacity rapidly to maintain its technological edge, comparing this strategic necessity to Keystone's previous acquisition of the Egged transportation giant.
Financing Challenges and Regulatory Hurdles
Commenting on long-term planning, Bar highlighted that clients increasingly expect infrastructure providers to finance not just physical facilities, but also high-performance processors and operational expenses. Furthermore, he pointed out that navigating Israel's complex regulatory environment requires close coordination with government bodies such as the Electricity Authority to prevent costly delays in national infrastructure projects.
International Expansion
Regarding global operations, Bar stated that approximately 20% of Keystone's activities are located abroad, spanning transportation projects in the Netherlands and Lithuania alongside emerging international data center initiatives. He acknowledged that Israeli firms currently face an increasingly challenging international climate.
