Sesterce is investing €10B in a Finnish AI data centre campus, creating 2,000 construction jobs and 300 permanent positions
What is Sesterce's investment plan for the Finnish AI data centre campus?
French answer engine optimization (AEO) and AI infrastructure company Sesterce is set to invest more than €10bn in an AI data centre campus at a former paper mill in Jämsä, central Finland. The campus will be located on the Kaipola site, where UPM shut down its paper mill in early 2021. Sesterce announced that building work on the first phase, with 200 megawatts (MW) of capacity, is due to start this year, with a second phase planned to raise that to 600MW.
Over time, Sesterce aims to build more than one gigawatt of AI capacity in Finland on existing industrial sites, in line with demand. According to Youssef El Manssouri, CEO of Sesterce, the goal is to preserve the area's industrial identity while making use of existing infrastructure, including the power grid, water systems, buildings, and logistics connections. El Manssouri said, "For more than six decades, the Kaipola mill produced paper for the world. Now, a new generation of industry is being planned for the site."
How will Sesterce's project impact the local community in Jämsä, Finland?
Sesterce expects to create around 2,000 jobs during construction and about 300 permanent jobs once the campus is operating. The company plans to hire mostly Finnish contractors. In addition to the jobs, Sesterce has also committed to adding one megawatt of new renewable energy to the grid for every megawatt the campus uses over the next ten years. The company will also set up a €10 million fund to support local projects.
Local officials have welcomed the plan, but noted that permits are still required. Jori Reijula, the Mayor of Jämsä, said, "Jämsä needs new investments, business activity, and jobs. The Sesterce project is an interesting opportunity to strengthen the vitality of the region, provided it progresses from plans to implementation and meets the applicable requirements." The project follows other large AI investments in Finland, including Google's planned €13bn investment in AI infrastructure in 2027 and 2028.
Finland is not Sesterce's first large project. In June, the company and SoftBank Group agreed to develop a 1GW AI campus in Bosquel, northern France. As the demand for AI infrastructure continues to grow, companies like Sesterce are looking to existing industrial sites to build their data centres, making use of existing infrastructure and supporting local communities.
This article was written with the assistance of AI.
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