State infrastructure plans
The Ministry of Digital Transformation plans to start construction of a national data centre for state institutions in 2027. I find the €20 million price tag for this government-backed project reasonable to modernize the country’s digital infrastructure. A feasibility study is complete, and authorities consider state-owned plots near the Skopje Industrial Development Zone for the site. The Ministry of Digital Transformation told IntelliNews that the project will use the European Union’s Growth Plan for financing, which provides 30% of the total funding through grants and 70% through soft loans. The facility will have an installed capacity of less than one megawatt to support public-sector digital infrastructure. This capacity limits its electricity requirements compared to the larger commercial facilities being considered. Minister Stefan Andonovski’s Cabinet expects to sign contracts in 2027, although the final completion deadline depends on implementation contracts. I find the lack of a fixed completion date problematic because the timeline remains tied to specific implementation contracts.
| Feature | National Data Centre |
|---|---|
| Estimated Cost | €20 million |
| Construction Start | 2027 |
| Installed Capacity | < 1 megawatt |
| EU Grant Portion | 30% |
| EU Soft Loan Portion | 70% |
Commercial investment and electricity
Private investors could bring in more than $500 million for commercial data centres, though these projects remain at an exploratory stage. One potential project might reach $100 million in its first phase. These commercial facilities require much more power than the state facility, which has an installed capacity of less than one megawatt. The ministry says private investors must secure electricity under market conditions and fulfill technical connection conditions. I agree with the ministry’s decision to rule out subsidizing electricity prices for private data centres or redirecting electricity allocated for households.
These large-scale facilities require continuous electricity to operate servers, networking equipment and cooling systems. I find the potential for increased electricity consumption and environmental pollution concerning, but the ministry will assess grid connections separately for each private project. The scale of energy demand varies depending on computing workloads and cooling technology. Foreign investors have expressed interest, but the names of the potential investors and the specific locations have not been disclosed. These discussions remain exploratory and no implementation agreements have concluded.
