Forestalia has unveiled an ambitious €12 billion investment plan to build and launch three state-of-the-art data centers in the Aragonese province of Zaragoza. This enormous sum will be directed toward the development and operation of these facilities, which are collectively codenamed ‘Project Bison.’ The municipalities chosen for the project are Magallón, Botorrita, and Alfamén. Recognizing the significance of this initiative, the government of Aragón has quickly granted it the status of a project of general regional interest (DIGA), a move that will significantly streamline bureaucratic procedures. Regional government head Jorge Azcón personally announced this decision following a cabinet meeting.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028, with the building phase expected to span eight years. This long-term project is set to fundamentally reshape the region’s economic landscape. Its technical aspects are equally impressive: the data centers will feature advanced closed-loop cooling systems to minimize water usage and environmental impact. Power for these vast facilities will be supplied from two main sources—on-site renewable energy, and integration with the national electric grid, Red Eléctrica Española—ensuring continuous and reliable operation.
The socio-economic impact of the “Buffalo Project” is hard to overestimate. During the construction phase, around 30,000 temporary jobs will be created, giving a powerful boost to the construction sector and related industries across Spain. Once the facilities are operational, the three data centers will provide roughly 3,000 permanent, highly skilled jobs. This is truly a revolution for small towns, which will become hubs attracting top tech talent.
Regional authorities paid special attention to the financial benefits for local budgets. Jorge Ascon stressed that revenues from the Economic Activity Tax (IAE) and the Property Tax (IBI) will significantly increase the financial capacity of the municipalities of Magallón, Botorrita, and Alfamén. These resources will allow local authorities to invest in developing social infrastructure, improving roads, schools, and medical facilities—directly enhancing residents’ quality of life. Essentially, this means turning rural areas into one of Southern Europe’s key technology hubs.
