Blackstone lands in Calatorao with its data center and a multi-million dollar investment

The American investment fund Blackstone is landing in Aragon. The company will deploy a data centre in 
Calatorao under the umbrella of an investment of 7.5 billion euros and the forecast of creating 1,400 direct jobs. Of these, 1,200 will be in construction and the rest for maintenance. It is its first installation of this type in the Community, which joins those of Microsoft or Amazon, while the interest of Meta or Google is gaining strength, still without official announcements. The deadlines for the implementation are not yet known. In this sense, the Declaration of General Interest (DIGA) could offer some light when it is published in the BOA in the next few days.

What is known is the companies that will accompany the multinational. These are the QTS group and Calanza Inmobiliaria, both subsidiaries that have collaborated, for example, in the purchase of industrial land, 224 hectares next to the A-2, seven kilometres from Calatorao and next to Lucena de Jalón, Épila or La Muela. The initiative is part of the first phase of the so-called Rhodes Project, which will exploit half of the surface (112 hectares) with the 7.5 billion announced this Monday. The DGA is cautious and confidential, typical of these projects, although future extensions with similar amounts are not ruled out if the entire land ends up being occupied.

Blackstone’s calculations point to an impact on the region’s Gross Domestic Product of between 16.5 and 25.45 billion euros over the next 25 years with current parameters. In other words, “one million per year,” as highlighted by President Jorge Azcón, who described the announcement as ” historic “. “Aragon is experiencing a spectacular moment,” he said, which in his opinion comes to crown an outstanding 2024 in terms of investments.

His first statements came at the launch of the data centre, a high-level meeting in the Sala de la Corona of the Pignatelli Building. The event was attended by the managing director of Blackstone, Jean-Cristophe Dubois, the bulk of the DGA councillors, the presidents of the Huesca and Teruel provincial councils, Isaac Claver and Joaquín Juste, the mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca, and representatives of the social agents and the main companies of the Community.

From the Sala de Columnas, Azcón has already boasted of an investment that, he says, has few comparisons. “There is no region in Europe that can say this. It is done in Aragon because we have conditions that make us unique ”, ​​he said. In addition, he has shown himself convinced of its viability from an energy point of view, especially due to the amount of water that these facilities require. Regarding electricity, the head of the Executive has reiterated that they have the “plug” to the network and the necessary kilowatts. It is not a minor issue and, in fact, he already put it on the table in his meeting with Pedro Sánchez last Thursday .

Sources from the multinational have expressed their “ satisfaction ”: “We are delighted with this announcement and to be able to work with the Government of Aragon and the rest of the parties involved.” Neither Dubois nor any other member has spoken. As Azcón has recalled, the president of Microsoft Spain did not do so at the time either. “They do not need marketing,” he said this time, about “one of the largest private funds in the world.”