Stefan Andonovski: National data centre foundation stone next year, construction by end of government term
Minister says feasibility study approved and financiers are being sought for an estimated €20 million project with EU‑linked loans.
Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski announced that work on a state national data centre is expected to begin before the end of the current government’s term, with the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone planned for next year.
Project scope, location and environmental safeguards
Andonovski denied that any permit has already been issued or that a contract was signed for a 100‑megawatt data centre that would use water from the Vardar River. He clarified that the water intended for cooling data centres would be technical water obtained from excavations into the inner ground layers, not surface water taken from rivers or lakes.
“We have laws that regulate building permits and environmental matters and I said — a decision to build such a data center will not be made if we are aware it would harm the environment. I often take the example of Slovenia, in Maribor, which uses water: it is warmed in the cooling process of the data center, then used to heat greenhouses or homes, and the cooled water is returned to the data center. It's not consumed, we don't have water consumption, and we will not allow anything like that to happen here either,” Andonovski stressed.
On domestic construction capacity, the minister said local companies can deliver much of the work if complemented by external technical support, advisory services and supervision. He pointed out that several smaller data centres have already been built domestically and that combining experienced local firms could meet the project’s needs.
Andonovski confirmed a feasibility study for the state data centre has been approved and the government is seeking a financier. He said talks are underway with six companies and that in the national Plan for Growth the project was positively evaluated at roughly €20 million, proposed as a mix of 30% grant and 70% soft loans. The final loan terms will depend on banks that cooperate with the European Union in supporting such initiatives.
The minister added that the planned site would be near Skopje, close to TIRZ zones, on state non‑arable land, and that procurement and the choice of contractor will follow international procedures determined by the financiers.
Photo: press material from the event
