Andonovski: Data centres will not be built at the expense of nature

The Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski assures that the construction of data centers in the country will not take place at the expense of nature and that projects which would have a negative impact on water, air or green areas will not be approved.

At todays press conference the minister stressed that the protection of the environment will be a prerequisite when considering all such investments, but he also expressed criticism that some of the public reactions are excessive.

"We will not allow any negative effect on the environment in order to build data centers. Trees will not be cut down, nor will we allow any harmful impact on nature in order to obtain a certain benefit," Andonovski said.

Locations and standards

One of the options under consideration, he added, is for data centers to be located in technological-industrial development zones — places where industrial infrastructure already exists and where brownfield investments could be realized. He also emphasized that every construction should undergo appropriate environmental protection studies, especially when it comes to foreign investments.

Andonovski pointed out that in talks with experts from the IT sector, machinery and industry there is no principled opposition to the construction of data centers; the main question, according to him, is their capacity, size and impact on the local environment. "The question is not whether there should be data centers, but how they will be built and to what standards. The development of digital infrastructure must go hand in hand with environmental protection," the minister said.

Environmental initiatives and associations remain skeptical: "There must be no data centers in Macedonia, they affect the environment and the population, say members of 'Zelen human grad'," their reaction states, which highlights concern about the potential effects on communities and ecosystems.

Photo: press material from the event