SDSM: Mickoski negotiating data‑center business 'under the radar' that involve water and power

The Social Democratic Union (SDSM) accused Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of arranging, "under the radar," commercial data‑center deals that would tap strategic national resources such as water, electricity and land, the party said at a press briefing on Monday.

SDSM spokeswoman Bogdanka Kuzeska argued that the projects being discussed publicly as a national data centre for state institutions are completely different from the commercial centres Mickoski is allegedly negotiating for foreign investors.

"What does the national data centre for storing data of state institutions have in common with the commercial data centres that Mickoski is arranging for some foreign investor, with huge consumption of electricity and water? Absolutely nothing. These are two completely different things," Kuzeska said.

Questions about transparency and costs

Kuzeska said the party will not waste time defending the credibility of MPs who have tried to justify the prime minister's moves, and repeated SDSM's accusation that the government is acting non‑transparently and hiding the names of the investors. "Mickoski says everything will be transparent, and yet publicly admits he is negotiating with five‑six investors. Who Mickoski is negotiating with 'under the radar' nobody knows. Names are not published. To whom is Mickoski making Macedonia's water, land and electricity available? How much will it cost citizens? Money, water, fertile land? Citizens know nothing. Mickoski works 'under the radar'," she said.

According to Kuzeska, VMRO‑DPMNE is manipulating the public to cover what SDSM describes as an attempt to channel public resources into private profit. "This is an attempt to justify something that has no connection to the European reform agenda, but rather to tender appetites. Why do they constantly mix public obligations with private data centres for investors? To cover private investments that Mickoski arranges 'under the radar' with the European Reform Agenda they failed to implement," she added.

Last week SDSM leader Venko Filipche published a company document that, he said, states capacity of 100 megawatts has already been secured for a planned data centre in the country, together with direct access to the Vardar River. Filipche said the document was posted three months ago and is another sign the government is working in secret without informing the public about potential impacts on national resources.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has rejected the opposition's claims as "total untruths," saying they come from people who do not want North Macedonia to move forward. He confirmed the government is negotiating with five to six potential investors, including "one large multinational," and defended plans for both a national data centre supported by an EU grant and cheap loan, and links to the existing facility near Prilep as part of a broader cybersecurity strategy.

"We already have one data centre in Prilep; with support from the EU we will build a national one that will connect all institutions," Mickoski said, describing the national project as a means to centralize cybersecurity and interoperability between institutions.

Photo: SDSM